An advanced Canadian demonstration satellite system for enhanced personal and business communications

In this paper, the system architecture for an advanced Canadian Ka-band geostationary satellite system is described, utilizing hopping spot beams and flexible onboard processing techniques to support a range of enhanced fixed and mobile services for both personal and business applications to a variety of fixed, portable, and mobile terminals of various sizes and rates. An assessment is given of the technical feasibility of a flexible onboard processing payload and advanced Ka band terminals in the 1998 timeframe. The satellite payload includes regeneration and on-board switching to permit single hop interconnectivity between mobile terminals and utilizes flexible handling of transmission rates, bandwidth, and power allocation to achieve a limited "bent-pipe like" transparency. An advanced terminal for mobile service requires antenna tracking and platform stabilization to ensure acquisition of the satellite signal. The potential user applications targeted for the enhanced fixed and mobile services include: home-office, multimedia, desk-top (PC) videoconferencing, digital audio broadcasting, single and multi-user personal communications, and advanced VSAT business communications.