This ESA project was aimed at the identification, analysis and optimisation of adaptive Fading Mitigation Techniques (FMT) together with the corresponding protocols, signalling information and formats in order to significantly increase the efficiency of future broadband DVB-RCS based satellite systems as compared to current systems.

As a consequence, this activity studied and proposed appropriate FM techniques including physical layer, signalling, and MAC protocols for the different link types of a transparent as well as regenerative satellite system scenario. This included the different services with individual Quality of Service (Q.o.S.) requirements in order to demonstrate the achievable system efficiency under realistic conditions.

The demonstration/assessment took into account physical layer impairments, such as channel estimation errors, synchronisation performance, impact of non-linearity, interference, limitations concerning the order of modulation and FEC coding type and rate, as well as traffic, required signalling overhead, or induced latency.