It provides a review of all the major satellite projects world-wide which involve use of the new technologies that are expected to revolutionise satellite communications.. Fifty-five such projects from Europe, Asia, Africa and North America are detailed and assessed.

The 213 page report takes a critical look at the market segments that broadband switched satellites will address - ATM, Internet and on-line services, tele-medicine, tele-education, VSATs, local television, mobile communications, voice, videoconferencing, satellite news gathering and data broadcasting.

It provides a survey of the current geo-political moves to open up the marketplace for such satellite delivered services within the context of the Global Information Infrastructure. This covers World Trade Organisation negotiations, US polices, the European Commission’s position, Japanese strategic thinking, and the pressures to reform the ISOs.

The Ka-band Report takes a critical look at the and technologies involved in the satellite delivered broadband switched environment and their economic trade-offs and consequences. These include on-board processing and switching, inter-satellite links, phased array antennas and the viability of ATM within a satellite environment. Key Research and Development initiatives in the USA, Europe and Japan are reviewed.

The report provides a comprehensive list of contacts in the Ka-band world, providing a Who’s Who of the industry. It provides valuable business intelligence on new developments.

Who should subscribe to the Ka-band Report?

The Ka-band Report is aimed at satellite operators, satellite service providers, satellite manufacturers, telecommunications carriers, on-line service provides, manufacturers of satellites, manufacturers of professional and consumer ground equipment, R&D institutions, regulatory and policy makers, financial institutions, consultants and media companies. The Ka-band report is aimed at anyone with a professional interest in satellite communications.

Table of Contents of The Ka-band Report

1. Introduction 7

2. Management Summary 12

3. Planned Ka-band Systems 25

3.1 North American proposals 26

3.1.1. Spaceway 29

3.1.2. PanAmSat 36

3.1.3. GE Americom (GE*Star) 37

3.1.4. Lockheed Martin (Astrolink) 39

3.1.5. Teledesic 41

3.1.6. Echostar 46

3.1.7. Orion 48

3.1.8. Motorola (Millenium, M-Star and Celestri) 49

3.1.8.1. M-Star 50

3.1.8.2. Celestri 51

3.1.9. KaStar Communications 52

3.1.10. Loral (Cyberstar) 57

3.1.12. Morningstar 58

3.1.13. Netsat 28 59

3.1.14 CellularVision (Visionstar) 60

3.1.15. AT&T Voicespan 62

3.1.16. Norris Satellite Communications 64

3.1.17. Telesat Canada 64

3.1.18. Megasat 66

3.1. International Satellite operator (ISO) Proposals 67

3.2.1. Intelsat 67

3.2.2. Inmarsat 69

3.2.3. Intersputnik and Lockheed martin Intersputnik 70

3.3. European Proposals 71

3.3.1. SES 72

3.3.1.1. European Satellite Multimedia Services (ESM) 75

3.3.2. Eutelsat 77

3.3.3. Italsat and Euroskyway 77

3.3.4. Matra Marconi Espace, ‘East’ and ‘West’ 80

3.3.5. SkyBridge (Sativod) 83

3.3.6. Medsat 86

3.3.7. Telenor (Thor/Bifrost) 88

3.3.8. Other European Proposals 90

3.3.8.1. Sirius 90

3.3.8.2. Hispasat 91

3.3.8.3. Videosat/Telecom III 92

3.3.8.4. Kypros-Sat 92

3.3.8.5. Maltasat 93

3.3.8.6. Euro*star 94

3.3.8.7. Turksat 94

3.3.8.8. Genesis 95

3.3.8.9. DB-SAT 97

3.3.8.10. Yamal 97

3.4. Asian Proposals 98

3.4.1. Asiasat 98

3.4.2. Koreasat 99

3.4.3. JCSAT 99

3.4.4. Superbird 100

3.4.5. Samsat 100

3.4.6. Thaicom 101

3.4.7. Measat 102

3.4.8. Arabsat 103

3.4.9. Other Asian Proposals 104

3.4.9.1. Insat 104

3.4.9.2. Paksat 105

3.4.9.3. Vinasat 106

3.4.9.4. Seysat 106

3.4.9.5. Indonesia, Palapa 107

3.4.9.6. Chinasat 107

3.4.9.7. Dacomsat (Korea) 109

3.4.9.8 Tongasat 109

3.4.9.9. Logohu (Papua New Guinea) 109

3.4.9.10. Japan, ETS-8 110

3.5. African Proposals 110

3.5.1. Diamondsat and South Africa-Sat 110

4. R&D in the Space Segment 112

4.1. The NASA ACTS Project 112

4.2. The Japanese R&D Projects 114

4.3. The European R&D Projects and Environment 114

4.3.1. Stentor 115

5.0. Key Technical Issues 117

5.1. ATM via Satellite 117

5.1.1. Some Market Perspectives on ATM 119

5.1.2. Compatibility of ATM with Satellite Communications 120

5.1.3. R&D Covering ATM via Satellite 123

5.1.3.1. GIPSE (Global Integrated Personal Satellite Multimedia Environment) 124

5.1.3.2. Catalyst I 125

5.1.3.3. UNOM (Users, Network Operators and Manufacturers) 125

5.1.3.4.THESEUS (Terminal at High speed for European Stock Exchange Users) 125

5.1.3.5. Icarus 126

5.1.2.5. NICE (National Host Interconnection Experiments) 126

5.1.3.6. COST Action 226 Integrated Space/Terrestrial Networks 126

5.1.3.7. COST Action 253 Service-Efficient Network Interconnection via Satellites 127

5.1.3.8. SECOMS: Satellite EHF Communications for Mobile Multimedia Services 127

5.1.3.9. VANTAGE - VSAT ATM Network Trials 128

5.1.3.10. Canadian ATM Satellite Trials 129

5.1.3.11. CANARIE Project Activity 129

5.1.3.12. Vistar Telecommunications 130

5.1.3.13. Spar Aerospace 130

5.1.3.13. Comsat Projects 130

5.1.3.14. Comsat ALA Project 131

5.1.3.15. Comsat Post ACTS Development 132

5.1.3.16. Comsat Advanced VSAT 132

5.1.3.17 AKT 133

6. Key Market Opportunities 135

6.1. Integrated DST and Multimedia Services 135

6.1.1. Basic Digital DBS Economics 137

6.1.2. Geographic Analysis of DST Markets 137

6.1.2.1. United States 137

6.1.2.2. Western Europe 140

6.1.2.3. Central and Eastern Europe 141

6.1.2.4. Middle East Including North Africa 142

6.1.2.5. Sub-Saharan Africa 143

6.1.2.6. Latin America 143

6.1.2.7. Far East 144

6.1.2.8. Measat DST Marketplace 145

6.2. Internet Access and Backbone 146

6.2.1. Likely Shape of the Internet Marketplace in the Ka-band Era 147

6.2.2. The DirecPC Market Signal 149

6.2.4. The Latency Problem for Internet Access via Satellite 151

6.2.5. European R&D Initiatives Involving Internet Access Via Satellite 152

6.2.5.1. CODE LAN Interconnect by Satellite 152

6.2.5.2. ISIS 153

6.3. Internet Backbone Infrastructure 155

6.4. Next Generation VSAT Systems 155

6.4.1. The Home-use VSAT Market 158

6.5. LMDS and LMCS 160

6.5.1. LMDS Technology Review 160

6.5.1.1. Current Regulatory Environment for LMDS in the USA 163

6.5.1.2. Situation in Other Countries 163

6.6. Satellite News Gathering 164

6.7. Local Television 166

6.8. Tele-education 169

6.9. Tele-medicine 170

6.10. PCN and Cellular Telephony Support 173

6.11. Other Services 173

7. Policy and Regulatory Issues 176

7.1. Spectrum for Ka-band Satellites 176

7.1.1. Definition of Ka-band Frequencies 176

7.2. The ITU and Ka-band Spectrum 177

7.3. World Trade Organisation Issues 177

7.4. US Policy and Regulatory Environment 182

7.4.1. Spectrum Auctioning 183

7.4.2. DISCO 1 and 2 184

7.5. European Policy and Regulations 187

7.5.1. European Union Level Issues 187

8. The Special Case of Japanese Ka-band Satcoms 190

9. Inter-Satellite Link Issues 194

10. Alternative Options 198

10.1 Pasifik Satelit Nusantara M2A Multi-Media Satellite Project 198

11. Appendices 202

11.1 Sources of Information and Acknowledgements 202

11.2. Trade Organisations and Industry Contacts 204

11.2.1 The Global VSAT Forum 204

11.2.2 Satellite Industry Association 206

11.2.3 Individual Contacts 207

11.3. Summary of ITU Ka-band Filings 209

11.4. Glossary of Terms 214

11.5. List of Acronyms 223

Tables

Table 2.1: Market Entrance Risk Analysis 21

Table 2.1: Summary of Planned Multimedia Systems World-wide 23

Table 3.1: US Broadband Satellite Proposals 27

Table 3.2: 1997 FCC Ka-Band Orbital Assignment Plan 28

Table 3.3: Spaceway Technical Summary 31

Table 3.4: Astrolink Technical Summary 41

Table 3.5: KaStar Key System Characteristics 54

Table 3.6: KaStar Project Milestones 56

Table 3.7: CyberStar Technical Summary 57

Table 3.8: Summary of Canadian Orbital Slots for Ka-band 65

Table 3.9: Megasat Orbital Slot Requests 66

Table 3.10: Intelsat Ka-band Orbital Slots 68

Table 3.11: Summary of Eutelsat Ka-band Satellites Requested 78

Table 3.12. Euroskyway Technical Summary 81

Table 3.13: ‘East’ and ‘West’ Orbital Slots 85

Table 3.14: Videosat Filings 92

Table 3.15: Genesis Orbital Slots 95

Table 3.16: Orbital Slots Requested by Korea 99

Table 3.17: Samsat Orbital Slots 101

Table 3.18: Arabsat Ka-band Filing Summary 103

Table 3.19: Insat-K Orbital Slots Requested 104

Table 3.20: Chinasat Filings 108

Table 5.1: Annual US Expenditure on ATM R&D 118

Table 5.2: Propagation Delay Comparisons (milliseconds) 122

Table 5.3: ATM Trials Using Eutelsat 124

Table 6.1. Global Installed DST Base, June 1997 136

Table 6.1: Comparison of ISIS with Other Access Systems 153

Table 6.2: Market Forecast, Japanese "Home-use VSATs" 159

Table 6.3. Summary of WTO Satcoms Agreements 181

Table 8.1: Summary of Operational Ka-band Japanese Satellites 191