Dear Reader, Thank you for investing your time into this book devoted to the fascinating world of Digital Satellite Communications. This is an Edited book which possesses some peculiarities that we believe make it different from other books of the kind. In fact, this book is the result of the joint effort of some sixty co- Authors who took part to a common European Research Project, named SatNEx, i.e. the European Network of Excellence (NoE) in Satellite Communications. This NoE is an instrument funded by the European Commission under the sixth Framework Programme (FP6), within the thematic priority Mobile and Wireless Systems beyond 3G of the Information Society and Technology (1ST) area. In brief, the objectives of the SatNEx NoE are the integration of knowledge and facilities, the pursuit of jointly executed research, and the spreading of excellence beyond the boundary of the SatNEx community. Within SatNEx, several joint activities have been launched on different areas of interest; among these, the Flexwave ]omi activity has been devoted to the study of all aspects related to the physical layer of a satellite communication system. This book is the output of two years of collaboration among the Flexwave partners.

Here is a sophisticated discussion of long-term development in advanced physical layer techniques designed for broadband communications, for fixed and mobile terminals, and 4G evolutions and possible convergence between different technologies. The authors provide state-of-the-art coverage on all aspects of the physical layer of a satellite link, including channel propagation, coding, modulation, synchronization and parameter estimation, predistortion and equalization, diversity and combining, multiple access, and software radio. Additionally, a general description of satellite systems and services is provided for organizing the material into a generalized and workable framework.

Theoretical Background.- Satellite Channel Impairments.- Forward Error Correction.- Modulation Techniques.- Parameter Estimation and Synchronization.- Distortion Countermeasures.- Diversity Techniques and Fade Mitigation.- Multiuser Satellite Communications.- Software Radio.- Systems and Services.