ATM over satellite-the VANTAGE project

VANTAGE (VSAT ATM Network Trials for Application Groups across Europe) is a part EC funded project that began in September 1995. The aim is to demonstrate the benefits of using satellites to convey messages in asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) to small communities of users at remote locations. This paper provides an insight into the work and, in particular, gives the results of a first trial which has demonstrated a number of ATM applications via satellite such as videoconferencing and interactive MPEG. Preparations for the next two trials are outlined. The first two trials use FDMA to switch ATM over satellite.