A digital satellite communications system for SPRINT

Switched voice, digital data and private line traffic are scheduled to be implemented in 1984-1988 by a digital satellite system encompassing the Spacenet and Gstar satellites. This system features TDMA terminals operating at 60, 90, and 120 Mbps with 36, 54 or 72 MHz-bandwidth transponders, respectively. The network topology will identify two application types: that designated 'on-net', whose earth stations will be strategically located at major junctions of the existing microwave backbone, near the larger cities, and will carry long haul, heavy route traffic between those junctions; and that designated 'off-net', whose earth stations are located off the microwave backbone at smaller cities and will access the backbone, and thence the entire SPRINT network, via gateway earth stations located at major junction sites.