The Challenge of 21st Century Satellite Communications: INTELSAT Enters the Second Millenium

This paper addresses the issues concerning the future of satellite communication, which will be influenced by the advancement of fiber optical cables, the proliferation of <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">C</tex> - and <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Ku</tex> -band satellites, the standardization of ISDN, the requirements for new and low cost services, the economic disparity among countries, the extent of institutional policy changes, as well as technological breakthroughs. The factors will dictate and shape, both internationally and domestically, the directions of future satellite communications. In addition, the following subjects are discussed: <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">•</tex> service and traffic projections <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">•</tex> access strategies <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">•</tex> modulation alternatives <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">•</tex> satellite switching and on-board processing <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">•</tex> phase array antennas <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">•</tex> low-altitude orbit options <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">•</tex> satellite lifetime extension.