Design analysis of a satellite SCPC-DAMA VSAT network

SCPC-DAMA VSAT networks (single channel per carrier-demand assignment multiple access very small aperture terminal) are usually adopted where many small remote stations are present, each with a low traffic intensity. This represents the typical scenario of a developing country, from which the alternative expression of `rural satellite networks´. The authors started by building a simulation model of the communication system. The design of signalling management protocol (SMP), which is the strategy used by the remote station for signalling management and scheduling, is very important in order to improve the network performance. Three different SMPs are proposed and compared by means of simulation results. A second important aspect in the network design is to minimize the communication resources without modifying global performance. To this end they have defined a method which allows a suitable sizing of the modem number per station. An analysis of the network behaviour under standard and overload traffic conditions is presented and discussed