Guest Editorial: Space Information Networks: Technological Challenges, Design Issues, and Solutions

It has been expected that space information networks (SINs), as an extension of terrestrial networks, would provide highspeed, high-capacity, global continuous communication, and data transmission services anywhere for anyone at any time. With the rapid advances in relevant technologies (e.g., satellite miniaturization technology, reusable rocket launch technology, and semiconductor technology), low-orbit satellites, drones, and airships can be integrated into the SIN to supply more comprehensive network connectivity. The standards development organizations including 3GPP, ITU, and ETSI already started corresponding standardization activities to support non-terrestrial networks in SINs. One can foresee that SINs will be expanded to provide not only telephone services but also various kinds of Internet services, and they will thus be able to serve many more users with different demands.