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and incur additional aerodynamic drag. Boeing is working with suppliers to develop high
performance antennas that can scan down to the horizon.
5.9.2.5 Deployment
The system will use leased Ku-band transponders on geostationary satellites to provide
an initial service. Boeing plans to grow the system capacity with customer demand by
leasing additional transponders.
Existing Ku-band satellites can provide coverage over most continental landmasses.
However, transponder coverage is currently not available over popular trans-oceanic air
routes. Boeing plans to provide a North Atlantic air route service using transponders that
were recently added as a “piggy-back payload” to an in-production commercial satellite.
A CONUS service is planned for late 2001, with expansion to the Atlantic & Pacific
Oceans, Europe, Canada and South/Central America in 2003. A service to Asia and
Africa is planned for 2004.
The characteristics of Boeing Connexion are summarised in Table 5-10 below.
Parameter Value Notes
Service topology Point-to-point The major aim of the system is to provide video
(television) and high bit rate transmission (web
access using cache mechanism on board aircraft)
from ground to air in a multicast or broadcast
mode.
ATN compliance No
Frequency band Service Link:
RF Channels
Satellite to AES: 11.2-
12.75 GHz
AES to Satellite: 14.0-
14.5 GHz
Feeder Link:
EIRP 46.2dBW.
Satellite to GES: 19.3-
19.7 GHz
GES to Satellite: 29.1-
29.5 GHz
Modulation scheme Direct Sequence
Spread Spectrum
(DSSS)
To a lower extent the system could also support
point-to-point communication.
The basic packet standard is IP compliant.
It is not a basic service but an ATN packet could be
embedded in an IP packet.
Ku band used also by VSAT. Exact allocation
depends on the ITU region considered.
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