Thin-route rural communications using Intelsat satellites

Abstract

Appl ication requirements exist and are growi ng in developi ng countri es for tel ecommuni cati ons services that can b e supplied best by use of satellite technology. Many of these r equirements can be satisfied w ith one or two telephone circuits per earth station location. In many areas of the world, the o nly satellite capacity available to support these thin-route s ervice requirements is in the INTELSAT system. Small earth s tations, suited economically and sized to provide the r equired thin-route s ervice capacity, have not been common in the INTELSAT system. However, INTELSAT is recognizing the need for thin-route services and the o pportunities that will develop for p roviding these services u sing small earth stations in the INTELSAT system. This paper explores the potential advantages of continuously-var iable-slope delta modulation (CVSD) voice encoding a nd the technical parameters of small earth stations suited for thinroute services as well as the developments within INTELSAT for responding to these service needs. Thin-Route Service Requirements and Opportunities The Pacific Basin has some 800 islands that are geographically dispersed o ver a vast area. Many of t hese islands rely primarily on high frequency (HF) radio for communications. INTELSAT Standard A or