International Technology Research Institute World Technology (WTEC) Division WTEC Panel Report on Global Satellite Communications Technology and Systems Joseph N. Pelton, Panel Chair Alfred U. Mac Rae, Panel Chair Kul B. Bhasin Charles W. Bostian William T. Brandon John V. Evans Neil R. Helm Christoph E. Mahle Stephen A. Townes December 1998 International Technology Research Institute R.D. Shelton, Director Geoffrey M. Holdridge, WTEC Division Director and ITRI Series Editor 4501 North Charles Street Baltimore, Maryland 21210-2699 WTEC Panel on Satellite Communications Technology and Systems Sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States Government. Dr. Joseph N. Pelton (Panel Chair) Dr. Charles W. Bostian Mr. Neil R. Helm Institute for Applied Space Research Director, Center for Wireless Deputy Director, Institute for George Washington University Telecommunications Applied Space Research 2033 K Street, N.W., Rm. 304 Virginia Tech George Washington University Washington, DC 20052 Blacksburg, VA 24061-0111 2033 K Street, N.W., Rm. 340 Washington, DC 20052 Dr. Alfred U. Mac Rae (Panel Chair) Mr. William T. Brandon President, Mac Rae Technologies Principal Engineer Dr. Christoph E. Mahle 72 Sherbrook Drive The Mitre Corporation (D270) Communications Satellite Consultant Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922 202 Burlington Road 5137 Klingle Street, N.W. Bedford, MA 01730 Washington, DC 20016 Dr. Kul B. Bhasin Chief, Satellite Networks Dr. John V. Evans Dr. Stephen A. Townes and Architectures Branch Vice President Deputy Manager, Communications NASA Lewis Research Center and Chief Technology Officer Systems and Research Section MS 54-2 Comsat Corporation Jet Propulsion Laboratory 21000 Brookpark Rd. 6560 Rock Spring Drive Mail Stop 238-420 Cleveland, OH 44135 Bethesda, MD 20817 4800 Oak Grove Drive Pasadena, CA 91109-8099 INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE World Technology (WTEC) Division WTEC at Loyola College (previously known as the Japanese Technology Evaluation Center, JTEC) provides assessments of foreign research and development in selected technologies under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation (NSF). Loyola’s International Technology Research Institute (ITRI), R.D. Shelton, Director, is the umbrella organization for WTEC. Paul Herer, Senior Advisor for Planning and Technology Evaluation at NSF’s Engineering Directorate, is NSF Program Director for WTEC. Several other U.S. government agencies provide support for the program through NSF. WTEC’s mission is to inform U.S. scientists, engineers, and policymakers of global trends in science and technology in a manner that is timely, credible, relevant, efficient, and useful. WTEC’s role is central to the government’s effort to measure its performance in science and technology. Panels of typically six technical experts conduct WTEC assessments. Panelists are leading authorities in their field, technically active, and knowledgeable about U.S. and foreign research programs. As part of the assessment process, panels visit and carry out extensive discussions with foreign scientists and engineers in their labs. The ITRI staff at Loyola College help select topics, recruit expert panelists, arrange study visits to foreign laboratories, organize workshop presentations, and finally, edit and disseminate the final reports. Dr. R.D. Shelton Mr. Geoff Holdridge Dr. George Gamota ITRI Director WTEC Division Director ITRI Associate Director Loyola College Loyola College 17 Solomon Pierce Road Baltimore, MD 21210 Baltimore, MD 21210 Lexington, MA 02173 WTEC Panel on GLOBAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMS FINAL REPORT December 1998 Joseph N. Pelton, Panel Chair Alfred U. Mac Rae, Panel Chair Kul B. Bhasin Charles W. Bostian William T. Brandon John V. Evans Neil R. Helm Christoph E. Mahle Stephen A. Townes ISBN 1-883712-51-3 This document was sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under NSF Cooperative Agreement ENG-9707092, awarded to the International Technology Research Institute at Loyola College in Maryland. The government has certain rights in this material. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States government, the authors’ parent institutions, or Loyola College. ABSTRACT This report reviews the status of satellite communications systems and technology research and development around the world, with particular focus on comparisons between the United States and other leading industrialized countries. Topics covered include a review of market forces and future drivers at work in the satellite communications industry today, key technology trends around the world, relevant policy and regulatory issues including standards and protocols, and opportunities for international cooperation. The report also includes site reports for visits conducted by the panel to leading research laboratories and systems developers in North America, Europe (including Russia), Japan, and Korea. Additional material is provided from secondary sources on relevant activities in Brazil, India, and Israel. The panel’s conclusions include the following: (1) many European and Asian governments are maintaining or increasing funding of commercial communications satellite R&D while the United States does not appear to be supporting R&D at the level necessary to maintain its leading market share position in this growing business; (2) the United States is the leader in the manufacture, insertion of new technology, and development and finance of new commercial communications satellites, but crucial new technologies, systems concepts and regulatory patterns will need to be developed to maintain this lead. Further, the United States now lags in the satellite launch service area, and this must be viewed with concern; (3) commercial communications satellite services are rapidly becoming a large and global business, increasing from $11 billion in 1992, to $20 billion in 1996 to a projected figure of $75 billion in 2005; (4) there is a critical need in the United States for long-term satellite and high frequency research—the continued U.S. leadership role in this industry is dependent on the creation of a strong, long-term R&D program to support future needs of new technology as the communications capability of the satellites improves; and, (5) opportunities for international cooperation can facilitate the global development of new satellite technologies, systems and standards. These and other conclusions are reviewed in detail in the panel’s executive summary. International Technology Research Institute (ITRI) R. D. Shelton, Principal Investigator, ITRI Director George Mackiw, Deputy ITRI Director George Gamota, ITRI Associate Director J. Brad Mooney, TTEC Division Director Robert Margenthaler, BD Division Director World Technology (WTEC) Division Geoffrey M. Holdridge, WTEC Division Director Bobby A. Williams, Financial Officer Aminah Grefer, Editorial Assistant, Europe trip advance work Catrina M. Foley, Administrative Assistant Christopher McClintick, Head of Publications Section Roan E. Horning, Professional Assistant, Web Administrator Michael Stone, LINUX Systems Administrator Rob Capellini, Student Assistant Rob Tamburello, Student Assistant Jason Corso, Student Assistant Xinye Zhang, Student Assistant Cecil Uyehara, Senior Advisor for Japan Operations Hiroshi Morishita, WTEC Japan Representative Geoffrey Giffin, Superhighway Systems, Editor Special thanks to Sharon Yun, Dept. of Commerce, for her assistance with the Korean trip. EXECUTIVE BOARD Dr. Joseph Pelton Dr. Alfred Mac Rae George Washington University Mac Rae Technologies Dr. Thomas Brackey Dr. Burton Edelson Hughes Space and Communications Co. George Washington University EDITORIAL REVIEW BOARD The following individuals reviewed the draft report. Mr. Hans-Werner Braun Dr. Thomas Brackey Mr. Randolph Bricker, Teledesic Corporation Hughes Space and Booz Allen and Hamilton Communications Co. Mr. Stephen Burrin Dr. Prakash Chitre Dr. Burton Edelson The Aerospace Corporation COMSAT Laboratories George Washington University Mr. Frank Gargione Dr. Len Golding Mr. Chris Hoeber Lockheed Martin Hughes Network Systems Space Systems/Loral Mr. Robert Kinzie Mr. Wilbur Pritchard Ms. Walda Roseman Iridium Wilbur Pritchard Consulting CompassRose International Mr. Peter Swan Motorola Copyright 1998 by Loyola College in Maryland. This work relates to NSF Cooperative Agreement ENG-9707092. The U.S. government retains a nonexclusive and nontransferable license to exercise all exclusive rights provided by copyright. The ISBN number for this report is 1-883712-51-3. This report is distributed by the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) of the U.S. Department of Commerce as NTIS report # PB99-117954. A list of available JTEC/WTEC reports and information on ordering them from NTIS is included on the inside back cover of this report. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the U.S. government sponsors of this study: Paul Herer, and Steve Goldstein of the National Science Foundation, and Ramon De Paula of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. We are very much indebted to our panel chairs, Joseph Pelton, and Alfred Mac Rae, for their dedication and leadership over the course of the study, and to the Executive Board and members of the Editorial Review Board