ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the integration of satellites with terrestrial networks to meet the demands of highly mobile communities. After looking at the fundamentals of satellite communications, it discusses the orbital and propagation characteristics and the various applications of satellite-based communications systems. Satellite-based communication has become a major facet of the telecommunication industry for two major reasons. First, it provides a means of broadcasting information to a large number of people simultaneously. Second, satellite communication provides a means of reaching isolated places on earth, where terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure does not exist or teledensity is low. To facilitate satellite communications and eliminate interference between different systems, international organizations govern the use of satellite frequency. All satellite systems are constrained to operate in designed frequency bands depending on the kind of earth station used and service provided.
