The Standard C communication system

The Standard-C communication system is the first of a series of new services to be introduced by INMARSAT. Commercial service is expected to commence in the middle of 1989, and full global coverage will be reached in 1990. The potential for a low cost mobile satellite data terminal was realised several years ago and a number of organisations are currently developing similar systems. Standard-C is rather different to most of these systems for the following reasons: it was conceived as a global system; it facilitates the entry to the system of multiple ground stations thus stimulating competitive user charges; it was designed to provide full interconnection with existing telecommunications networks such as telex and data networks; and it was coordinated with CCITT regarding numbering plans and interworking procedures to ensure PTT acceptability