Industry looks at military exceptionally high frequency bands

Various programs and systems in the developing EHF communications band usage, including satellites, are examined. Commercial systems, built by companies which also hold military contracts, are beginning to feature capabilities formerly reserved for the military, in order to meet increased demands for voice, video, and data links. The C-band, from 4-6 GHz is becoming oversubscribed, leading to the implementation of the Ku-band, from 11-14 GHz. Saturation of these bands is expected to occur in the early 1990s. The Japanese have been experimenting with the 20/30 THz bands since 1976, the Italians are planning the Italsat, and ESA is developing the L-Sat, all in the same frequency bands. NASA explored the region partially with the ATS-6 spacecraft, but funding has lagged. Plans exist for an Advanced Communications Technology Satellite, operating up to 50 GHz, to be launched in 1987 and function for two years. It is suggested that military users may benefit from leasing dedicated commercial satellite channels, while the commercial operators will profit from greater guaranteed use of the equipment.