Fast-packet vs circuit switch and bent pipe satellite network architectures

The Ka frequency band has the potential to enable rapid deployment of broad band multimedia services around the world. The optimal satellite payload ar chitecture for these services depends on the needs and constraints of the N etwork Service Provider (NSP) and the limitations of technology. TRW has de veloped a methodology that enables satellite-based NSPs to understand the b usiness implications of a variety of payload and network architectures. TRW also conducted a study to quantify the differences between competing archi tectures in terms of throughput and financial performance. For many network operators, moving from a familiar 'Bent Pipe' to the new g eneration of processing payload architectures raises concerns as to which a rchitecture will maximize return on investment. The results reported in thi s paper quantify the throughput potential of a Bent Pipe, analog Circuit Sw itch, and Fast-Packet Switch architectures using a baseline traffic model f or geographically dispersed multimedia users. A Bent Pipe architecture is d efined as a payload without switching. Payloads with switching are consider ed processed payload architectures. This paper explains the design differen ces and business analysis for broadband multimedia services. A multimedia t raffic model and economic model demonstrate why the ATM architecture genera tes more billable-bits per month and enhanced financial performance than ei ther a Bent Pipe or Circuit Switch architecture for geographically disperse d multimedia users. Copyright (C) 1999 TRW Inc.