Guest Editorial: Space Information Networks: Technological Challenges, Design Issues, and Solutions

It has been expected that the space information networks (SIN), as an extension of the terrestrial network, would provide high-speed, high-capacity, global continuous communication, and data transmission services anywhere for anyone at any time. With rapid advances in relevant technologies (e.g., satellite miniaturization technology, reusable rocket launch technology, and semiconductor technology), low-orbit satellites, drones, and airships can be integrated into the SIN to supply more comprehensive network connectivity. The standard development organizations including 3GPP, ITU, and ETSI already starts corresponding standardization activities to support nonterrestrial networks in SIN. It can be foreseen that SIN will be expanded to provide not only telephone services but also various kinds of Internet services, and it is thus able to serve many more users with different demands