See http://www.comsoc.org/pubs/commag/call.html


March 2001 Feature Topic on Satellite-Based Internet Technology and Services


The ongoing ramping-up demand for Internet and multimedia communications services calls for new architectures and new technologies capable of
providing high-quality and high-speed Internet services. In this context, satellites have been identified as a potential means to meet the explosive Internet
demand and to evolve both the Internet infrastructure and services. Satellite connections, especially when custom-engineered for high bandwidth, can provide
cost-effective long-distance connections and effectively can help in expanding the Internet and bring Internet services to the international public. For this
reason, a significant number of professionals and experts worldwide have recently focused on the study of satellite-based Internet technology and services.
New satellite-based technologies and services start to emerge ranging from broadband direct-to-the-home Internet access to IP networks in the sky. 
This feature topic will focus on the above technologies and services. In particular, it aims to explore the ongoing research in the field of satellite-based
Internet technology and services and to provide a tutorial-oriented and concise reference of the current activities and findings in that field. Future activities and
trends will also be addressed. Main emphasis is given in the discussion of new satellite technologies that can provide efficient and cost effective Internet access
and backbone services. The performance, deployment feasibility and the economics of such technologies will be exhibited. 
In general, this feature topic will demonstrate how satellites can be exploited in the expansion and evolution of the Internet. The most significant areas of
interest include, but are not limited, to the following: 

      Satellite Internet services directly-to-the-home 
      IP routing-in-the-sky with LEO, MEO and hybrid constellations 
      TCP/IP/DVB performance issues via satellite channels 
      Multicast networking via satellites 
      Performance evaluation of satellite Internet access technologies 
      Utilization of DVB and DBS Technologies for Internet traffic support 
      Evaluation of satellite network architectures, such as Bent Pipe and Circuit Switched, for Internet access 
      Web Browsing issues via satellite channels 


Prospective authors should email their manuscripts in electronic form (postscript, pdf, or MS word) to Dr. Apostolis Salkintzis according to the deadlines
indicated below. The "Author Guidelines" are available on-line at http://www.comsoc.org/ci. 

Schedule

Submission of manuscripts: April 30, 2000 
Acceptance notification: June 30, 2000 
Final manuscript due: August 15, 2000 
Publication of Feature Topic: March 2001 

Guest Editors

Apostolis K. Salkintzis
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
The University of British Columbia
2356 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4
Canada
Tel: (604) 822-1857
Fax: (604) 822-5949
E-mail: salki@ece.ubc.ca 

P. Takis Mathiopoulos
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
The University of British Columbia 
2356 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4 
Canada 
Tel: (604) 822-6942 
Fax: (604) 822-5949 
E-mail: mathio@ece.ubc.ca