Satellite Communication Advancement, Issues, Challenges and Applications

Abstract: Communication in the whole of the World is revolutionized with the advent of Satellites. Satellite Communication has served mankind in many ways e.g. to predict weather, storm warning, provide wide range of communication services in the field of relaying television programs, digital data for a multitudes of business services and most recent in telephony and mobile communication. It may not surprise world community, if satellite communication links may be used for voice and fax transmission to Aircraft on International routes in near future. GPS Navigation, Global telephony, Multimedia video and internet connectivity, Earth Imaging through Remote sensing satellites for resource monitoring, Telemedicine, Tele-education services etc. are other feathers in Satellite communication applications. Satellite communication system has entered transition from point-to-point high cost, high capacity trunks communication to multipoint -to-multipoint communication with low cost. Satellite Communication has moved in many steps ahead like frequency reuse, interconnecting many ground terminals spread over the world, concept of multiple spot beam communications, Laser beam based communication through satellites and use of networks of small satellites in low earth orbit. In this paper satellite communication advancement, different application aspect present and future is discussed. Satellite communication has many application and market if we can pool our resources, come up with innovative and low cost solutions for world community.

Keywords: Satellites, GPS Navigation, Remote Sensing, Telemedicine, Frequency reuse, Networks of satellites.