Title :
Development of stratospheric communication platforms (SCP) for rural applications
Author :
Ilcev, St D. ; Singh, A.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng., Univ. of KwaZulu Natal, Durban
Abstract :
Despite advances in terrestrial telecommunications technology, almost three billion of the world´s population living in rural locations is still without any telephone facilities. Apart from fixed and mobile satellite networks, new stratospheric communication platforms (SCPs) are the latest space techniques with advanced technology for fixed and all mobile applications, including military and rural solutions. These systems employ unmanned or manned, solar or fuel energy airships or aircraft carrying payloads with transponders and antennas. Therefore, these remote controlled-solar powered airships or aircraft offer a much more cost effective solution for coverage of some region or country including urban, suburban, rural areas, farms and other environments with low population densities. The SCP network offers a better solution than all existing cellular radio systems, with greater speed of transmission than even optical modes. Roaming is enhanced without severe shadowing problems and disturbances inside buildings, and the service costs less. The SCP mission can be integrated with current satellite and cellular systems; the system is more autonomous and discrete and will be the best solution for rural, military and all mobile applications
Keywords :
aircraft antennas; aircraft communication; military communication; mobile radio; mobility management (mobile radio); remotely operated vehicles; satellite communication; transponders; SCP; SCP mission integration; aircraft payloads; antennas; building disturbances; cellular systems; cost effectiveness; farm areas; fixed satellite networks; fuel powered airships; low population density environments; manned airships; military applications; mobile applications; mobile satellite networks; remote controlled-solar powered airships; roaming; rural applications; rural population; satellite systems; service cost; shadowing problems; space techniques; stratospheric communication platforms; suburban areas; telephone facilities; transmission speed; transponders; unmanned airships; urban areas; Artificial satellites; Costs; Fuels; Military aircraft; Military communication; Military satellites; Mobile communication; Satellite broadcasting; Space technology; Telephony;
Conference_Titel :
AFRICON, 2004. 7th AFRICON Conference in Africa
Conference_Location :
Gaborone
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-8605-1
DOI :
10.1109/AFRICON.2004.1406665