Broadband services over ATM via satellite

Satellites can play very important role in the development of B-ISDN services based on ATM technology. The main strengths of satellites are their flexibility of covering large areas which make them useful in all phases of integrated broadband communications, from the initial experimental systems to the fully developed networks. A demonstrator has been developed within the RACE Programme. It has been claimed as the world first satellite ATM system. The paper reports the architecture of the satellite ATM system and its capability of supporting B-ISDN services