On the achievable rates for the return-link of multi-beam satellite systems using successive interference cancellation

Abstract

This paper investigates the theoretically reachable rates in the return-link of multi-user multi-beam satellite systems. The return-link can actually be analyzed by means of multiple-input multiple-output signal processing techniques. While MIMO inspired multi-user detection for the return-link of satellite systems has been partly investigated in the past, a fundamental look at the achievable gains by these advanced signal processing techniques for satellite communications is missing. Depending on the number of colors used in the system, the available bandwidth per beam can be traded off against the level of co-channel interference. This paper explores the fundamental limits dictated by information theory to the communication rates on satellite multi-beam scenarios, and the impact of a realistic beam patterns on these data rates.