Performance of multilayered satellite networks

Satellite systems play an important role in current global communications. New generations of satellite systems can utilize so called multilayered configurations where satellites among various layers (orbits) are interconnected to increase a capacity of overall system. Such satellite systems need to find optimal protocols (e.g. routing protocols) and optimal number of interlayer links. In this paper, we present and analyze latter aspect for two-layer satellite networks/systems based on end-to-end packet delays. We evaluate by simulations how interlayer interconnectivity influences final packet delays and we also show that full interconnectivity is not necessary to achieve acceptable results.