Liberalisation of satellite services-a DTI view

In June 1988 it was announced that 27 applications for specialised satellite service (SSS) licences had been received, and in October it was announced that, after due consideration, these licences were to be awarded to: British Aerospace; British Satellite Broadcasting; Electronic Data Systems; Maxwell Satellite Communications; Satellite Information Services; and Uplink. Also Kingston Communications would be permitted to operate fixed uplinks from within the Hull area, and to run transportable uplinks within the rest of the country. The author discusses the nature of the services, frequency usage and coordination of Earth stations, possible further liberalisation and an outlook to the future