Mobile satellite communications

In recent years, there has been an explosion of interest in mobile satellite services (MSS) -- from hugely successful PCS systems to massive failures such as Iridium. In this book, one of the world's leading mobile satellite experts covers emerging and future mobile communications services in unprecedented depth: the technologies, the trends, and the business models.
M. Richharia begins by reviewing the evolution of mobile communications, comparing satellite and terrestrial systems, and presenting the fundamentals of mobile system architecture. Next, he introduces satellite constellations, presenting the basics of orbital mechanics, and comparing the approaches utilized in several recent systems. The book also includes an up-to-date review of the current controversy over the effects of RF radiation on humans. After introducing the technical fundamentals of mobile satellite systems, Richharia turns to economics, showing how to make key tradeoffs and handle crucial operational issues such as radio resource management and quality of service. He compares several recent systems, introduces new concepts such as broadband satellite, and previews new applications such as satellite audio broadcasts.
For all practicing communication system engineers, technical managers, telecommunications managers, economists, and others seeking to deploy successful mobile satellite communications systems.

Contents

• Introduction
• Satellite constellations
• Radio link
• Modulation, coding and multiple access
• Communicators
• Spacecraft
• Commercial issues
• System architecture
• Representative MSS systems
• Related satellite systems
• Future trends
• Orbital characteristics of proposed and operational systems
• GEO constellations
• Proposed regional super-geostationary systems
• Typical link parameters of an operational first generation regional GEO system
• Gateways of non-geostationary satellite systems
• Satellite launchers
• Index