Integration of DISN and commercial satellite communications system

Summary form only given. Key issues regarding the seamless integration of commercial satellite communications system in the evolving Defense Information System Network (DISN) architectures are presented. Both the mid-term (year 2000) and the long-term (year 2005) DISN architectures are considered in the fixed and deployed/mobile environments. For the mid-term time frame, the interworking issues of NISDN operating over the terrestrial and satellite portions of DISN are addressed. Network architectures are described in detail including the terrestrial interfaces and the internal satellite network functions which are essential to achieve seamless integration. For the long-term DISN target architecture, the fixed environment infrastructure is going to be BISDN with ATM payload and the deployed/mobile environment to be ATM. Issues and problems of BISDN (SONET/SDH) with ATM payload operating over commercial satellite for the fixed elements of DISN are identified. Operation of ATM over satellite for the deployed/mobile forces and their interconnection with fixed assets are discussed. Suitable satellite network architectures with bandwidth on demand capability to handle the traffic surges are described. A series of enhanced functions internal to the satellite network are presented. A future satellite network architecture with on-board "ATM" processing is also described for its possible role in the DISN far-term target architecture.< >