Applicability of MIMO to satellite communications

Abstract

This paper presents achievements of an on-going activity where the applicability of MIMO to satellite communications with Digital Video Broadcasting - Satellite services to Handhelds as the key application is studied. The potential satellite and hybrid satellite-terrestrial MIMO scenarios are described, and the applicable MIMO schemes for each scenario are selected. The performance of the MIMO schemes was studied by performing comprehensive computer simulations, and the main results are presented in this paper. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This paper explores, implements, and evaluates the gains of various MIMO techniques for hybrid satellite/terrestrial communications. The gains obtained from simulating the MIMO schemes on a digital video broadcasting-satellite services to handhelds based system provide a definitive push towards taking the MIMO theory to practice in satellite systems. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.