Several corporations are putting satellite systems into space. Many of these systems will supply broadband data capabilities. Basically, if everything works as planned, you will be able to hook up your computer to a satellite from anywhere on earth.

Bill Gates, Craig McCaw, Hughes, Motorola and Loral are some of the people and companies trying to build an internet in the sky.

The different satellite systems can be distinguished in several way. Three ways to distinguish satellites systems are their orbits, the radio frequency they are going to operate on and the type of routing they will use. These are some of the issues I will look at in this site.

Common orbits:
• Low-Earth Orbit (LEO)
• Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO)
• Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO)

Common frequencies:
• L-band
• Ka-band
• Ku-band

Types of routing:
• Bent pipe
• Satellite to satellite

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Dec. 7, 1999