Traffic management strategies in an integrated satellite/cellular network for mobile services

After a survey on the historical reasons for the current configuration of incompatible terrestrial and satellite mobile networks, the paper compares the classical traffic channel assignment in cellular networks with a more enhanced strategy, suitable to an integrated configuration that exploits the concept of sharing, peculiar to satellite resources. The impact on network management and planning is pointed out and the results of a simulation model allow a quantitative assessment. The paper also illustrates how the corresponding procedures respect the terrestrial cellular network protocols.