The Future of Satellite Communications in Pakistan

The use of satellites in communication systems is a fact of everyday life, as is evidenced by the many homes which are equipped with antennas, or "dishes", used for reception of satellite television (DTH). What may not be so well known is that satellites form an essential part of telecommunications systems worldwide, carrying large amounts of data and telephony traffic, in addition to television signals. Keeping in view the importance of satellite communications as a key to success for any developing country, this paper describes some essential trends in the development of satellite communications and introduces promising future applications for Pakistan.