New Opportunities through New New Opportunities through New TechnologiesTechnologies

Wireless and Satellite CommunicationsWireless and Satellite Communications

Jack Rigley

Vice President

Satellite Communications Research

Communications Research CentreAug 25, 2000

OutlineOutline

• Types of Digital Communications Systems– how do you connect to the information highway?

• Why Wireless?• Brief overview of Terrestrial Wireless and

Satellite broadband communications

• Why this is important.

Canada - One PerspectiveCanada - One Perspective

“Making Canada the Making Canada the

most connected nationmost connected nation

in the world”in the world”

16000 schools connected to the Internet - March 1999

10% by satellite

Digital Communications SystemsDigital Communications Systems

•Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) - 56kbps

•Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)- 8 Mbps

•Cable Modem - 4 Mbps

•Wireless 10 - 100Mbps

•Fibre Optics - 1 Gbps $1,000/user

$10/user

Wired SystemsWired Systems

Two Types of WirelessTwo Types of Wireless

• Terrestrial Wireless

• Satellite Communications

Terrestrial WirelessTerrestrial Wireless

Why Terrestrial Wireless?Why Terrestrial Wireless?• Alternative to fibre and copper wire• New technology: deliver today’s services and

meet tomorrow’s demands• Low start-up costs: need to install base stations

only, “pay as you go”, viable for low penetration rates

What is LMCS/LMDS?What is LMCS/LMDS?Local Multipoint Communication System/Local Multipoint Communication System/

Local Multipoint Distribution SystemLocal Multipoint Distribution System

an access technology for the delivery of the following services:

• voice/telephone

• data

• internet access

• high speed broadband access

• video broadcast

antennaservice area

Satellite CommunicationsSatellite Communications

Ubiquitous Coverage - same level of service

Affordability

Rapid deployment - instant infrastructure

Geostationary Earth Orbit36,000 km

Arthur C. Clarke, 1945

Internet & Broadband Networks

Remote Communities

Schools

Business

HospitalsTelecommuters

Gateways

Anik F2

An ExampleAn ExampleOctober 1996:

Children at the Milton J Rubenstein Museum of Science and technology (MOST) in Syracuse NY participated in a live tour of Ottawa’s Aviation Museum via broadband satellite communications link

Near FutureNear Future

• Terrestrial broadband systems licensed and starting to roll out around the world.

• Broadband Multimedia Satellite systems beginning services this year with many more to be launched the next 5 years, providing global broadband access.

Get Ready