ATM trunking using AAL-2 over satellites

Geosynchronous satellite systems have traditionally been used for trunking of Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) voice traffic between international destinations in carrier networks. While the underlying TDM transport techniques are being replaced by packet based techniques such as ATM, voice continues to be a major application for fired satellite systems. Many studies, laboratory experiments, and field trials have addressed the transport of ATM over satellite. These activities have shown the feasibility of geosynchronous satellite systems carrying ATM traffic and providing the quality of service comparable to terrestrial based systems. This paper reports on laboratory evaluations of voice trunking over satellite using ATM Adaptation Layer 2 (AAL-2) and addresses some of the issues that are unique to this particular application and its adaptation to ATM. Following an overview of voice trunking with ATM, AAL-2 and a description of the rest bed implemented, test results covering the impact of transmission errors and delay on voice performance are presented.