This page provides some general information on MF-TDMA technology if you are new to this field and a link to additional information on STM’s current technology and latest developments.

Packet vs. Connection Oriented MF-TDMA Satellite Networks

As with other types of networks, satellite networks can be optimized for packet-oriented communication (e.g., for the Internet Protocol) or connection-oriented communications (e.g., for circuit-switched telephony). STM’s product lines address both types of communications requirement. The Solante line is optimized for circuit-switched telephony; the SatLink line is optimized for packet-oriented Internet Protocol (IP) communication.

To read more about DVB-RCS, the open international standard for how packet-oriented MF-TDMA networks operate, click here .

What is MF-TDMA

MF-TDMA (Multi-Frequency, Time Division Multiple Access) is the leading technology for dynamically sharing bandwidth resources in an over-the-air, two-way communications network. Many variations of MF-TDMA technology (including simple TDMA) exist and are commonly used in multiple types of networks, including:

• Most two-way communication satellite networks,
• The most common cellular telephony networks (e.g., GSM), and
• Some metro-wireless data access networks (e.g., WiMax).

Some alternatives to MF-TDMA are CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and CSMA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access). It is also possible to combine MF-TDMA technology with these other technologies.

For satellite networks MF-TDMA is the dominant technology because it provides the most bandwidth and the greatest overall efficiency and service quality, while also allowing the dynamic sharing of that bandwidth among many (tens of thousands) of transmitters in a two-way communication mode. MF-TDMA networks can have either a star-topology, a fully meshed or partially meshed topologies.