New satellites for personal communications

1998/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Komunikazioak

Since the first communication satellite was launched in 1965, much of the world's communications have been carried out via satellites. Although initial transmissions were very limited, the technique has evolved and a large capacity of sending information has been achieved. Thus, at present almost a third of telephone calls and all television broadcasts are made via satellite. But these transmissions are not very fast, since the satellites used so far are in geostable orbits of 36,000 km.

Now, however, large telecommunications companies intend to install a fleet of satellites in much smaller orbits, with the aim of accelerating data transmission and directing it to the whole world. These satellites will be aimed at personal telecommunications such as telephony and the internet. In this way, you can get communication between two people who are anywhere in the world, using only mobile phones. These new satellites will be located in very low orbits, between 2,000 and 10,000 km, each occupying only one area of the earth's surface. The goal is for everyone to communicate via satellite making a mosaic among all.