Planning of the 12 GHz broadcasting satellite service in Region 2

The 12 GHz band broadcasting satellite plan formulated for Region 2 (the Americas) at the 1983 Regional Administrative Radio Conference met all requirements with a total of 1144 assigned channels. In order to achieve this high capacity (16 channels/service area), it was necessary to place some assignments at orbit locations with relatively low elevation angles and early eclipse times. This high capacity does not prevent the plan from adapting to changing technological features of broadcasting in this band as it evolves over the years, and is estimated to be more than 2.5 times larger than the capacity which would be available without taking advantage of the geographical characteristics of the region, as well as of isolation by means of spacecraft antennas.