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Introduction: The idea that communications technology in general, and the Internet in particular, are profoundly altering the fabric of our existence has become universally accepted. However, the applications that have revolutionized the concept of business and entertainment, guzzle bandwidth and the primary focus of networking technology now is to develop alternate and efficient ways of delivering bandwidth to the end user.
The way forward: Traditionally, the principal modes of delivering bandwidth have been satellites and submarine cables. Though geo-stationary satellites offer a large amount of bandwidth downstream, they are challenged to offer a high enough upstream rate for interactive broadband services. The string of proposed low earth orbit satellites (Iridium project) has also run into financial and technical trouble. Terrestrial transmission using microwave technologies have been hampered by line of sight limitations. In such a scenario, wireless communication from high altitude aircraft promises true broadband connectivity with limited technical and financial constraints.
So diverse are these requirements that no existing player in any market will be able to fulfill all of them on its own. Thus, the industry will be populated by consortia and it is unlikely that more than one or two DTH consortia will be able to achieve break-even.
Service: The network will offer ubiquitous access and dedicated point-to-point connections throughout a "footprint" 50 to 75 miles in diameter. A piloted High Altitude Long Operation (HALO) aircraft will provide the "hub" of the network. Operating continuously over each market, the aircraft will create a "Cone of Commerce" in which customers will access broadband services. HALO networks will be financed and deployed to select markets, on a city-by-city basis.
The stratospheric communication network will provide consumers with a broadband digital utility for accessing multimedia services, the Internet, and entertainment services. The network equipment at the subscriber's premise will be standards-based and employ a user interface as simple as today's typical consumer modem. Consumers will be able to access video, data, and the Internet at rates ranging from 1 to 5 Mbps.
Corporations also will be able to utilize video conferencing and allow their employees to telecommute, saving both time and money. There is also the possibility of entrepreneurs, consultants, and small companies forming virtual corporations interconnected within the "Cone of Commerce." Business users will be offered connection speeds ranging from 5 to 12.5 Mbps. Initial high capacity users can enjoy links at 25 Mbps and higher.
Contd..... Technology.
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