Is E-Band Satellite Communication Viable?: Advances in Modern Solid-State Technology Open Up the Next Frequency Band for SatCom

The Russians launched the first artificial Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, into an elliptical low-Earth orbit (LEO) in October 1957. Through its four external antennas, Sputnik 1 broadcast radio beacons at 20.005 and 40.01 MHz to study the density of the atmosphere and the radio-wave propagation through the ionosphere. This historic event represents the advent of the satellite age. Since then, satellites have become an integral part of global navigation, Earth observation, broadcasting, and communication systems. The latter complements conventional wired and wireless terrestrial communication and provides an effective platform to relay radio signals between two arbitrary points on or near the Earth. Satellite communication offers end users a high level of flexibility. Irrespective of the geological coordinate, the user can benefit from a broad spectrum for various applications, from two-way voice and data communication to video conferencing.