Satellite UMTS/IMT2000 W-CDMA air interfaces

The third-generation IMT-2000 initiative of the International Telecommunication Union is aiming at the provision of a limited family of global standards providing worldwide multimedia wireless services in a host of environments encompassing indoor picocells to satellite megacells. The ITU IMT-2000 initiative has been supported by several regional standardization bodies such as the European Telecommunication Standard Institute with its Universal Mobile Telecommunication System. In this article a few air interface proposals for the satellite component of UMTS/IMT-2000 based on adaptation of the emerging terrestrial wideband CDMA standards are reviewed. In particular, S-UMTS requirements are examined together with W-CDMA applicability to the satellite environment. It is shown that with minor adaptations, the terrestrial W-CDMA air interface provides an efficient solution for the satellite UMTS component. This commonality will certainly help in the realization of low-cost low-size dual-mode user terminals encompassing both terrestrial and satellite components.