Global mobile personal communications by satellite (GMPCS), how will developing countries benefit?

Now that at least one of the proposed satellite systems for mobile personal communication has almost become a reality (e.g. Iridium has launched almost half of its planned satellites and others are to follow), the high potential of these systems for the developing world is stressed in many places. This paper gives an overview of developments in broadband satellite proposals. It also elaborates on some technical issues and regulatory problems involved with the introduction of these systems in the practical reality of the developing world.