Mobile Internet access is becoming extremely popular because users depend on the Internet for many activities in their daily routine. Satellites are well suited for mobile Internet applications because of their ability to enhance coverage and long-range mobility. Satellites remain attractive for mobile users (for both pedestrians and, more importantly, those in vehicles) accessing the Internet in sparsely populated areas where high bandwidth UMTS cells cannot be economically deployed or in regions where deployment of terrestrial facilities remains impractical. In this paper, we analyze various mobile Internet applications for both GEO and LEO satellite configurations (Iridium-like and Globalstar-like) using an enhanced version of ‘ns2’ (Network Simulator 2). As part of enhancing ns2, we developed a channel propagation model that includes shadowing from surrounding building skylines. The model incorporates actual data measurements collected in urban areas. In our analysis, we first...
Pierpaolo Loreti, Michele Luglio, Rohit Kapoor, J.