Italy in millimeter waves activities for space communication

Italian participation in ESA satellite communications programs for international and national applications are reviewed. Initial activities involved development of the Sirio satellite beginning in 1968, with launch in 1977, using the 12 and 18 GHz bands. Interactions with ESA on the L-Sat program, using equipment at 20/30 GHz, and the same bands for ASTP to fabricate a multispot beam antenna and a regenerative repeater are surveyed. An Italian company provided stable satellite beacons to various European sites during the H-Sat program to establish operations at 20/30 GHz, develop SS-TDMA techniques, and to progress in millimeter wave technology. The L-Sat program investigated direct television broadcasting at 12/18 GHz. The 20/30 GHz section of the L-Sat will be employed for video teleconferences, multipoint sources, and tele-education. The Italsat program will provide domestic telephony at 20/30 GHz, and is scheduled for preoperational launch in 1986.