Application of Advanced On-Board Processing to Satellite Communications - Cost/Performance Implications for Technology Development

Abstract

Rapidly growing communications services are creating a demand for large capacity communications satellites which are efficient and economical. This demand, coupled with the need for affordable earth terminals and the requirement for a mix of user types, means that future communication satellites must support a complex system structure. Technological development and implementation are clearly needed. The focus of this paper is on-board processing techniques and related technical issues regarding implementation of a multibeam communications satellite which would service a wide range of users in the 1990 time frame. The effect of various forms of on-board signal processing on satellite communication system performance and cost in the 20/30 GHz band is examined. The implications for technological development are discussed in the context of a specific system architecture suitable for use by wideband high rate trunking users and lower rate customer premises services. The particular impact of processing satellite architectures on earth terminal costs is emphasized.