Planning for growth in satellite systems - The Intelsat experience

It is thought that the increase in conventional voice traffic will result primarily from growth on existing links rather than the establishment of new links. A steady growth of approximately 15% per annum is forecast over the next decade, for a requirement of more than 125,000 circuits, worldwide, by the early 1990s. It is noted that the transfer of services from a satellite to its successor is becoming increasingly complex with successive generations. Increases in the number of beams and beam interconnections, together with differences in coverages between successive satellites, have required totally new frequency plans and carrier assignments to be implemented as part of the operation transition. Attention is also given to the way that the investment in resources, technologies, and installed plant already in use exerts a strong influence on the alternatives for growth.