Space telecommunications services and applications

Abstract

This chapter examines the ever increasing number of services and applications that are now provided by the commercial satellite industry. It explains that basic types of satellite services as defined by the ITU for the purpose of radio frequency allocations - particularly the Broadcast Satellite Service (BSS), Fixed Satellite Service (FSS), and the Mobile Satellite Service (MSS). This section further explains that regulatory, standards and policy actions by various international and regional organizations, plus commercial competition also leads to the development of different terms to describe new and emerging satellite services. Key to the development of satellite services and applications within the global telecommunications market is not only the development of new satellite technology, but also the competition between satellites and terrestrial wireless, coax, and fiber-optic networks. Satellites and terrestrial systems, despite being competitive, are nevertheless often complementary because they have particular strengths and weaknesses that do complement each other. Further these systems are also used to restore each other against outages - particularly during natural disasters. Satellites have evolved in their offerings for nearly 50 years and will continue to do so with the future including services to interplanetary distances and perhaps beyond.