IWSTI

The convergence of mobile and Internet technologies is now driving the development of systems capable of supporting multimedia and interactive services previously available only to fixed users. The provision of a range of new multimedia services in an efficient, secure, and cost-effective environment can only be accomplished by integration of networks, specifically integration of terrestrial and satellite networks. Indeed, one of the major strength of satellites is their inherent capability of wide coverage to reach large audiences spread over wide and/or remote areas where it is not economical to deploy terrestrial infrastructures. Satellite-based communications to mobile users suffer from is shadowing effects but effective solutions can be devised by considering for instance terminal local cache, or an architecture involving gap-fillers or intermediate module repeaters (IMRs) transmitting the signals terrestrially to allow in building and urban area penetration. In the access network, satellite systems have the flexibility to support a range of multimedia services and deliver these to large number of terminals economically and there is need for integration with terrestrial systems. Finally, users do not want multiple terminals which requires the satellite service to be compatible with the terrestrial services. This is the cooperative service delivery approach in which the various service types are integrated into a single terminal. Adopting compatible standards will allow cheaper equipment and flexible offering by operators. Therefore, the future of satellite is very much in an integrated architecture with terrestrial systems to provide multimedia services, be they mobile or fixed systems. The objective of this workshop is to provide a forum for researchers and technologists to present new ideas and contributions in the form of technical papers, related to all issues involved in the design and operation of satellite/terrestrial integrated networks.