Abstract
M.Ing.
The increase of multimedia and broadband communications in recent years has brought about the creation and implementation of synchronousdigital hierarchy (SDH) in the terrestrial network. The implementation of SDH in the satellite sector is a natural extension to improve the current available networks. It will drastically increase the flexibility and usability of the current under-utilized satellite sector. Unfortunately, SDH has still not been implemented in the satellite sector due to certain inherent synchronization problems of SDH and satellites. This thesis investigates some of these synchronization problems. A simulation tool was created that makes an accurate assessment of SDH synchronization in the satellite sector. The tool was used to study SDH links over goestationary (GEO), medium earth orbiting (MEO) and low earth orbiting (LEO) satellites. Various changeable SDH parameters were investigated to determine their influences. Parameters like the bit rate and elastic store length or hysteresis lengths were considered.