Communications: Bell's echo-killer chip: Annoying echoes in two-way conversations via satellite are eliminated by using an inexpensive silicon circuit

A complete echo canceler on a single silicon integrated circuit is an economical solution to a persistent problem in long-distance communications: The echo of a caller's previously spoken words. This echo, if not completely eliminated is far more annoying on satellite circuits than on terrestrial circuits because of the increased transmission delay. The echo-canceler IC however, will make satellilte and terrestrial links comparable in quality. Satellite links, morever, are potentially cheaper than terrestrial systems. Such links have no expensive repeater stations and they are easier to rearrange when traffic patterns change.