IRIDIUM(R) aeronautical satellite communications

Abstract

The ever-increasing demand to stay in touch, to be able to communicate anywhere and anytime, has created a market for Low Earth Orbit (LEG) satellite communications services such as the Iridium System. The Iridium satellite communications network is being developed to support the needs of the passenger, the cabin crew and the flight crew. Iridium Communications LLC owns a network of satellites that provides a connection between mobile subscribers and gateway earth stations. The gateways provide connections to the public switched telephone network (PSTN), as well as to Aeronautical Gateway Subsystems (AGS). AGSs provide connections to packet data networks, and are used to initiate, ground to air "safety" voice calls.