• Most of us take telephones for granted, but some

people are involved in occupations - like trucking,

fishing, flying, shipping, or surveying - that put
them out of contact with the rest of the world for
long periods of time.
• Most telephone calls are made over phone lines
that physically connect the user to a station that
transmits the signal to its destination. This, of
course, is only possible if the users are always near
their telephones. Cellular phones, which serve
mobile users, only operate when the phone is
within range of a microwave tower. Because these
signals, however, must travel in a straight line, they
cannot travel around the curvature of the Earth or
past large obstacles like mountains.
 A satellite system that could provide
mobile telephone service anywhere
iusing small and inexpensive terminals
had long been a vision for those whose
work or lifestyle took them far from
telephone contact.
On April 20, 1996, the Canadian firm TMI
Communications launched MSat, a
powerful new communications satellite.
MSat was Canada's first satellite designed
to serve mobile users, especially those in
remote areas out of the reach of
conventional communication systems.
• The MSAT spacecraft has sufficient capacity to
support up to 3,200 radio channels depending upon
the type of mobile antenna used and the bandwidth
allocated. Both the MSAT and AMSC spacecraft have
two large 5-metre by 6-metre mesh reflectors, each
illuminated by separate transmit and receive L-band
cup dipole feed arrays.
• With an operational life of 10 to 12 years, both
satellites cover all of Canada and the entire U.S.,
including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin
Islands, 200 miles of Canadian and U.S. coastal
waters, and have the capacity to cover Mexico. TMI
and AMSC each initially constructed and operate one
satellite. Together these satellites have established an
integrated North American mobile communications
system providing voice and data service to mobile
terminals throughout Canada and the United States.
Under a Joint Operating Agreement signed by TMI
and AMSC in April 1990, the two companies provide
complementary mobile telephone, radio and data
service to land, aviation and maritime users. The
companies also provide one another with back-up
and restoration capacity.
• Mobile satellite communication systems are used
for transmitting point-to-point voice and data
communications using a constellation of satellites.
• Such systems may include a number of user
terminals, several terrestrial ground stations or
gateways.
• These systems also support data and facsimile
services to mobile users.
• MSAT communication systems can provide coverage
in large, sparsely-populated areas where it is not
cost effective to implement network infrastructures.
• Satellite systems can also make services available to
airborne and sea-based users.
• The MSat system is revolutionary because this
mini-terminal will allow users to make voice phone
calls, send email or faxes, and obtain accurate
information about their position. Any vessel,
vehicle, aircraft, or remote operation can easily be
equipped with one.
• One of the reasons the new satellite telephone
service works for remote locations is that the new
satellite broadcasts a signal of 600 watts, eight
times stronger than any previous commercial
satellite. This means that the signal no longer
requires a large dish-like antenna to pick up the
signal. Instead, the MSat communicator can receive
and transmit the digital signals.
• In the last few years the 2 areas of satellite
communication that have gained popularity are:
1. VSAT
2. MSAT
• VSAT provides services to fixed fixed users
• MSAT provides services to moving vehicles
• Due to several common features between the
both, MSAT is also called “VSAT-ON-WHEELS”
kinds of communication:
1. Mobile to mobile
2. Mobile to dispatcher
3. Mobile to PSTN
4. Satellite and network control
 APPLICATIONS
• fire fighters trying to put out a forest
fire in a remote location can
communicate with airplanes bringing
water to drop on the fire.
• Air ambulances can communicate
with medical experts on the ground.
• Truck drivers can communicate with
their head office while they are
travelling.
 Objectives of MSAT :

• To foster the development of nationwide

commercial mobile telecommunications
services, by satellite, primarily to rural and
remote areas.
• To provide cost-effective mobile radio and
telephone services on a variety of low-cost
mobile terminals (land, sea and air).
 Services provided:
• Mobile Radio Service (MRS) which provides voice and
data communications between a mobile terminal and
base stations or between mobile terminals in a closed
user group.
• Mobile Telephone Service (MTS) - a full duplex voice
communications service which provides direct access for
mobile terminals to the Public Switched Telephone
Network (PSTN).
• Mobile Data Service (MDS) - a service which provides a
communications path for the bi-directional transfer of
data between a mobile terminal and a data hub station in
a packet switched mode.

These services were provided in the land, air and marine

environment.
• For MSATs it is essential thaty sufficient power must
be radiated in the direction of coverage area.
• Radiated power depends on the power availablle at
the satellite and gain of the antenna.
• Very large antennas with high gain are capable of
providing multitude of spot beams.
• Satellite with a UHF antenna size of 3 to 10m size is
sufficient to provide several spot beams.
Mobile stations use two classes of mobile antennas :
1. Steered antennas
2. Non-steered antennas
• Non-steered antennas provide a gain of 4-8db and
is omnidirectional with regard to azimuth.
• Steered antennas provide a gain greater than 8db
and is directional with regard to azimuth.
• Steered antennas track the satellite being used ny
the mobile units.
• Circular polarisations are used in these satellites.