Statistical performance prediction of SatCom systems featuring smart gateway diversity

The shift of current satellite systems towards higher bands prompts for fade mitigation techniques such as Smart Gateway Diversity (SGD) to meet typical availability targets. This paper compares feeder link simulations of a conventional Ka-Band system (no SGD), with Q/V- and, as a novelty, W-band systems featuring SGD. The aim is to calculate the system margin, i.e. the extra transmit power w.r.t. free-space propagation, required to maintain the same number of gateways and the same system availability in the three systems. In a European scenario, a W-band system would require a margin 5.6 dB higher than an equivalent Q/V-band system with 6 gateways and one back-up.