Interoperability and testing in broadband satellite networks

By combining satellite and terrestrial (wireless) technologies, full coverage and high capacity can be achieved for true broadband services. The interoperability of such diverse networks imposes a number of challenges regarding service provision and management. The end-to-end quality of service (QoS) management implies that features such as service scalability between different networks have to be available. On the other hand, wireless QoS capabilities provide a promising diversity for a wide range of seamless applications. However, differences in QoS properties between both the wired and the wireless applications have a considerable effect on the quality level as well as platform and application dimensions of network interoperability. This paper examines the so-called interoperability requirements in integrated uses of satellite communication technology together with terrestrial (wireless) network technology for seamless delivery of broadband services (using ISABEL and CLIX e-learning applications) in rural and remote areas. This is demonstrated with an example of two educational, real-time and recorded, eLearning services.