Systems for radiocommunication with ships via satellite - The INMARSAT organization

Historical, organizational, and technical aspects of the INMARSAT maritime satellite-communications program are reviewed, with a focus on the Italian installations. The measures adopted by the international conferences since 1973, the signatories and their investment shares, and the management structure of the INMARSAT organization are described. The geosynchronous satellites presently operating or planned are shown to provide global ship-to-shore or ship-to-ship communication coverage, and the hardware and capabilities of ship stations, land stations, network-coordination stations, and satellites are outlined. The Italian land stations, the Earth Station at Fucino and the Maritime Centre at Rome, are described in more detail, including block diagrams and band distributions.