High-speed Internet/intranet services using asymmetrical multimedia network

Information sharing services using a satellite, such as CS digital broadcas ting and highspeed satellite internet are rapidly growing. NTT has develope d an asymmetrical multimedia satellite communications system that combines high-speed satellite circuits for the forward link and low-speed terrestria l circuits for the return link. The effectiveness of this system has been c onfirmed by joint experiments from 1996 and commercial service has started since September 1998. This paper describes a satellite communications syste m developed for commercial service and gives an outline of the service.