Abstract:This paper presents two effective bandwidth estimation methods for connection admission control in satellite ATM networks with Adaptive FEC (AFEC). Due to the dynamic code rate of AFEC, its effect would be taken into account in estimating the effective bandwidth. A fluid approximation method is first applied to estimate the effective bandwidth values for general time-varying satellite channels and satellite ATM network with multiple-code-rate AFEC. But the requirements of the method are strict and its computing complexity is high for practical purposes. Based on this method, the authors propose a second estimation method by using a modification factor. the numerical results show the second method is simple and effective and widely applicable.