Wide area data networks using digital satellite communications

The authors describe the use of a digital satellite communications system to form a wide area network connecting multiple geographically separated high-speed local area networks. A multiple-carrier time-division multiple-access system is used as the satellite access method, with transmission on a single frequency and reception on all available frequencies. The system offers the advantages of rapid reconfiguration for load balancing, centralized management, and ease of installation at any geographic location. A three-node pilot network of the full-mesh system has been constructed with nodes in New York, California, and Texas, and is operating currently