Domestic satellite communications systems - Background and projections

Planned and existing national and international communications satellites are reviewed, along with comparative costs for leasing or owning a satellite and the basic capabilities of communications spacecraft. Eleven different satellite communications systems existed in 1982, including Intelsat, Marisat/Inmarsat, and Intersputnik as the international segments, and the Molniya, Telesat, Palapa, Westar, Satcom, Comstar, Amersat, and the SBS national systems. Seven of the twenty countries leasing Intelsat services are planning their own satellites. Leasing permits full capabilities withno development costs and ensures the lessor of full use of the satellite capacities. Developing countries can then gain hands-on experience with space technologies. Future demands are discussed, noting the broadening of the available bandwidths, better orbit utilization, and increases in transponder numbers to handle increased loads in future spacecraft.