Satellite propagation in the South Pacific region

Attention is given to the propagation impairments associated with those frequency bands that are useful in a South Pacific satellite system, with emphasis on the satellite signal attenuation effects of rainfall. On the basis of the climatological regional commonality of eastern (tropical) Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the South Pacific islands, reliable long term rain intensity measurements have been obtained and converted to rain attenuation values by means of an empirical formula. System margins are proposed for trunk and concentrated subscriber telephone circuits, and transmission margins are calculated for 25 representative earth stations in the South Pacific region for 11 and 14 GHz operation.