MIXED PROSPECTS FOR SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

摘要

The year 2000 was, in many ways, a banner year for satellite communications. After the dark days of the 1997 financial crisis, many pundits and analysts challenged or dismissed satellites from future Asian telecom scenarios. Although some, indeed many, projects were put on hold at that time, most have now bounced back - and often in a different, and better, form. Many prestige-driven national programs, for example, have given way to regional programs with better business plans. The reasons for the bounce-back are relatively simple: demand is increasing for an even wider range of services than in 1997 (such as, from voice to Internet and radio broadcasting), and satellites can cover vast territories with point-to-multipoint distribution services. That being said, though, challenges remain.