Satellite Multimedia for Mobile Phones European Space Agency (07/26/07)
as it appeared in the August 6, 2007 edition of ACM TechNews.
The European Space Agency's Telecommunication Department is encouraging the development of technology that is needed to use satellite systems to send digital multimedia such as video, television programs, radio, and data to mobile phones and vehicle-based receivers. The ability to use satellites to send content to mobile phones and similar devices will give content providers an alternative to terrestrial-based networks and will provide universal coverage and broadcasting. High-powered satellites in geostationary orbit could be used to broadcast data, and when combined with Earth-based repeaters, the system could ensure global coverage. Modern mobile telephones and vehicle-mounted receivers could be easily and inexpensively adapted to receive the satellite signals. The ESA is partially funding the development and qualification of important components and subsystems being developed by the European industry and satellite operators. SES Global and Eutelsat Communications are the first to work collaboratively toward establishing the infrastructure for S-band broadcasting of video, radio, and data to mobile devices. Eutelsat has commissioned a W2A satellite from Thales Alenia Space that will be launched in early 2009 and will transmit in the S-band, which is between 2 to 4 GHz. The S-band is a new frequency for both SES and Eutelsat, and is optimized for supporting the wireless distribution of multimedia broadcasting. Click Here to View Full Article
