Communications satellites - Countdown for INTELSAT VI

Microwave technology development over the last 20 years has expanded the transmission bandwidth/satellite in earth-synchronous orbit from 50 to more than 3000 MHz. Solar cell, electrical battery, stationkeeping and microwave amplification technology advancements have increased satellite service lives from 1.5 years to 10. The INTELSAT geostationary communications satellites which are scheduled for introduction into the global system in 1986 will have the capacity for 40,000 telephone channels, as well as two TV programs. The satellite generation beyond that of 1986, which is currently in the design stage for expanded capacity, will be needed by the mid-1990s to meet traffic demand and is projected to incorporate such features as 20- and 30-GHz communications, onboard signal processing and switching, and more bandwidth-efficient modulation.