EAST and other applications for future European telecommunications

This paper examines the likely developments in satellite telecommunications in Europe in the early years of the 21st century. The paper identifies the main spacecraft design drivers for mobile, rural telephony and wideband applications, with a particular focus on EAST (Euro-African Satellite Telecommunications) and WEST (Wideband European Satellite Telecommunications), the major Matra Marconi Space initiatives for mobile, rural telephony and wideband satellites to ensure a European option competing with the US industry initiatives