The objective of the satellite frequency assignment problem (FAP) is to minimize the cochannel interference between two satellite systems by rearranging the frequency assignments. This NP-complete problem is difficult to solve, especially for large-size problems, and is yet growing in importance, since we increasingly depend on satellites to fulfill our communications needs. In this paper, we p...

Traditionally a majority of the commercial satellite communications systems have been fixed repeaters at C-band and Ku-band. The satellite industry is presently undergoing significant changes in the types of systems that are being fielded. New low earth orbit and geo stationary mobile systems have large numbers of flexible beams at either L-band or S-band through the use of large phased array a...

This paper presents an overview of the results of the development of Ku-Band Low-Profile antennas for Mobile Satellite Communications. The antennas are based on a hybrid mechanical-electronic steerable array architecture. Different prototypes have been developed and demonstrated. We present the results for two receive-only antennas for satellite broadcasting applications and two Transmit-Receiv...

This paper discusses system and technology aspects crucial to the development of satellite communications at Ka band (20–30 GHz) and beyond. It surveys the evolution of Ka band geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellite communications until the present stage of development of systems for direct-to-user (DTU) provision of interactive multimedia services worldwide. Then it discusses the attenuatio...

SatNEx aims to overcome the fragmentation in Europe’s satellite communications research by bringing together Europe’s leading academic institutions and research organisations in a cohesive and durable way. This paper gives an overview over the first two phases of the SatNEx Network of Excellence project, as well as an outlook to the extension, SatNEx-III, planned for the years 2009 – 2012. Keyw...