Ka band enabling technologies for high throughput satellite (HTS) communications

Global demands for personal, businesses and governments connected data continue to challenge our communication technologies and infrastructure. Both wired and wireless terrestrial communications systems are realizing advancements in technologies and their applied infrastructure enhancements. These ever evolving terrestrial communication systems are providing for increased data capacity, an enhanced quality of service and a lower cost per bit for all users. Satellite systems are especially challenged in order to remain relevant for these same enhancements in order to augment and compete with these terrestrial global communication systems. In order to meet these global demands the next generation satellite communications systems are evolving by advancing their own technologies and infrastructure. The resulting next generation communication satellite systems include utilization of the Ka frequency band and also through the application of other key advancements in antenna systems and processing payloads. This paper provides an overview of many of the communication satellite system advancements which are in part enabled through the utilization of the Ka frequency band.