Energy Efficiency and Satellite Networking: A Holistic Overview

With the increasing need for converged and ubiquitous broadband service support, next-generation mobile radio technologies are posed to be more efficient in different aspects such as energy and spectrum. There are also emerging critical environmental and cost concerns due to the steadily increasing energy consumption and related negative consequences such as greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs. In that respect, energy-wise optimization of satellite communications is crucial considering the objectives of cost improvement and energy efficiency (e.g., due to mobile and small form-factor end-user devices) or the strict energy constraints such as satellite power capacity for resource allocation. However, there are intrinsic challenges such as hardware complexity, algorithmic problems, and design tradeoffs. In this work, various aspects of energy efficiency and satellite networking, ranging from protocols for airborne satellite systems to mobile end-user terminals are reviewed and discussed. In addition, we present emerging factors including dynamic spectrum access, cross-layer design, the integration of space/terrestrial networks, interplanetary Internet, and emergency communications. Moreover, the enabling effect of satellite communications for greener infrastructural systems from the perspective of smart grids, so-called “enabled efficiency,” is outlined beside this “self-efficiency” issue.