Use of QUIC Protocol for Efficient Data Transmission Over Satellite in Emergency Scenario

During emergency situations, reliable and fast communication is crucial for an effective response and coordination of recovery and rescue operations. However, regular communication means may not be always available nor reliable. In this scenario, constellations of Low Earth Orbit satellites can offer high bandwidth capabilities with (relatively) low latency, making them ideal for supporting disaster management teams on the ground and complementing (or replacing) terrestrial telecommunication infrastructures. In this context, the use of the recently defined QUIC protocol can provide the possibility to seamlessly switch from ground communication to satellite ones when needed. In this paper, we discuss the case study of satellite communication in an emergency scenario, assessing via a simulation study the benefits achievable by QUIC under varying queuing parameters and congestion control algorithm behavior.