Global connectivity via satellite

This paper describes the existing international satellite organizations, INTELSAT and Inmarsat, that have been established to provide global coverage for fixed and mobile satellite communications, respectively. Some seven systems, recently filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide either complete or limited global fixed service at Ka-band, are reviewed. If authorized, some of these systems could be in operation early in the next century and would offer wideband multimedia services around the globe, with low service charge and initial installation cost. The paper concludes with a review of four satellite systems currently being built to provide personal communications services (PCS) globally. These systems are planned to be in service by 1998-2001 and will offer subscribers the ability to make voice, fax, or data calls with a cellular-like telephone from nearly anywhere on the planet.