Satellite/cellular interoperability for Europe

This paper proposes a space segment which provides GSM (Global Standard for Mobile communications) compatible mobile communications in the European region. The system will use a three-satellite TUNDRA orbit constellation of eccentricity 0.15. BLQS-CDMA is the proposed access method. A circularly symmetric 7 spotbeam coverage of Europe is proposed. The system architecture and protocols allow compatibility with the GSM system. Voice, paging and low rate data services can be provided to subscribers across Eastern and Western Europe, including maritime areas. Terminal costs are minimised to aid market penetration. System capacity calculations suggest that up to 200000 subscribers could be supported by the system on a GSM compatible channel rate of 11.4 kbit/s