Ultra-portable multimedia satellite terminals for the BGAN satellite system

Recent years have seen several satellite communications systems offering telephony and low rate data services for handheld satellite terminals. However, there is a demand for small, portable, mobile broadband satellite terminals. This paper describes a new generation of portable satellite terminals aimed at offering both circuit switched and packet switched services for voice and Internet data applications at the L-band, and discusses the major system issues involved in offering IP over satellite for nomadic users.