Developing digital technology for satellite applications in the next millenium

This paper reviews EUTELSAT´s approach for the preparation of its satellite constellation, in particular the Hot Bird constellation at 13° East, to support digital broadcasting as well as to cope with a range of new applications for the next millenium. The EUTELSAT Hot Bird satellites (numbered 1 to 5), which will be co-located at 13° East, operate over the whole 10.7-12.75 GHz band on the downlink, and, together will provide about 100 transponders for analogue and digital TV services