The suited project: a multi-segment system for broadband access to internet services
R.A. Wyatt-Millington · 2000
The major driving force behind the research and development of future mobile technologies, services and applications is now the convergence of mobile and Internet protocol (IP) based technologies. One project that aims to address these issues is SUITED: Multi-Segment System for Broadband Ubiquitous Access to InTErnet Services and Demonstrator. SUITED is a project funded under the EC's Fifth Framework Information Societies Technology (IST) Programme. SUITED is being undertaken by an 11 partner pan-European consortium, led by Alenia Spazio. It aims to build on the results of the related projects SECOMS/ABATE, ASSET and ACCORD, which addressed 20/30 GHz mobile satellite issues under the EC's 4th framework ACTS programme. The project intends to define the network architecture for provision of mobile Internet services over complementary satellite and wireless components. The terrestrial segment comprises of UMTS, GPRS and W-LINK networks, and the satellite component is based on the 20/30 GHz Euroskyway network. The continuous demand from users for multimedia Internet access that is location independent and QoS sensitive is also addressed by the SUITED project by the development of a Global Mobile Broadband System (GMBS). This paper aims to provide an overview of the SUITED project, highlighting the technical issues involved in the design of the network architecture. It also aims to explore the required inter-working units that facilitate the required inter-segment mobility. (11 pages)