Two technologies recently developed by COMSAT that have significant economic impact on communications satellite capacity and lifetime are discussed. The first technology, compressed video distribution, achieves the transmission of at least two TV programs through a single 36 MHz bandwidth transponder, with excellent quality. The second technology, the operation of communications satellites in inclined orbit increases the satellite's lifetime considerably beyond its design life, by eliminating the North-South station keeping maneuvers. The combination of these two new technological achievements results in enormous savings in the cost of satellite video distribution and opens new horizons for the exploration of service opportunities that were not economically feasible before.
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