Low Earth orbit satellite technology for PCS

Abstract

The authors examine today's major issues in terrestrial personal communication systems (PCS) and show the emerging technologies necessary for global PCS. It is suggested that, with the development of existing technologies and the spectrum allocations, the Iridium system of low Earth orbit satellites will revolutionize PCS to make telecommunications a global phenomenon. The Iridium system will allow high-user-density wireless service of up to 1.6 million subscribers by the year 2000, consumer digital wireless service that is truly portable and easy to use, one-way messaging and paging services, and data, graphics and compressed voice.<>