Fiber optics for SATCOM earth terminals

Fiber optics provides advantages of wide bandwidth, immunity to interferences, low delay distortion, low loss/dispersion, ease of installation, increased security, cost-effectiveness, and high reliability. Fiber optic (FO) links are very attractive for satellite communications (SATCOM) earth terminals; particularly, the wideband spread-spectrum, jam resistant systems. This paper presents the performances of (1) X-band, C-Band and L-Band SATCOM RF FO links; (2) 1-2 GHz and 700 MHz IF links; (3) high performance 70 MHz IF FO link, and (4) base-band multiplex/demultiplex and controls. New FO technologies and the future SATCOM application trends are also described.