TCP Performance for Users on Trains in Presence of Hand-Overs Due to Tunnels

In this paper the reference system is given by wireless users aboard of fast moving vehicles, such as trains, connected to the Internet by means of satellite links. Performance of several TCP flavors are investigated in this scenario and they are obtained by simulation in presence of hand-overs which happen when a train enters a tunnel and the satellite comes to be unreachable. These hand-overs imply time intervals during which data flows are slow down or blocked. Results show that depending on their duration, users performance can be remarkably affected.