DVB‐RCS goes mobile: Challenges and technical solutions

This article presents an overview of the DVB-RCS system addressing mobile scenarios (DVB-RCS+M). It analyses the challenges linked to the mobility support and it summarizes some of the techniques to cope with those challenges. The focus of this article will be on the technical solutions analyzed within the framework of ESA studies and contracts. In particular, this article will address in detail the proactive retransmission technique and the seamless handover mechanisms including beam, satellite, gateway and gap-filler handovers. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.