Issues in satellite personal communication systems

In the paper various issues in personal satellite communications are addressed. Basic geostationary and non-geostationary satellite constellations are considered. The narrowband and wideband characterization of the mobile satellite channel and related system implications are discussed. Satellite diversity is presented as a measure to overcome signal shadowing. The capacity of TDMA and CDMA multiple access is estimated, taking into account co-channel interference. Various network issues, such as mobility management, radio resource management, call control, routing, and network integration are addressed. Finally, some regulatory and political issues are mentioned which may be most relevant for market development and financial success of satellite personal communication systems.