Microwave monolithic integrated circuits for high-data-rate satellite communications

ABSTRACT Many future civilian and government applications will require gigabit/second data rates which areconsiderably htgher than data rates that are now aixiilable using either terrestrial or satellite services. New, high-data-rate telecommunications systems will be implemented using both satellite andterrestrial media to meet these requirements. Many of these applications will be for Individualentrepreneurs using high resolution high performance workstations needing access to distant supercomputers and large data bases to develop complex models of our environment or to control complex processes. The key to the viability of thesefuture systems Is a low cost high-data-rate network of terrestrial and satellite communications. Microwave monolithic Integrated circuits (MMIC) Is the enabling technology that can make satellite networks affordable for tying together terrestrial networks. Reported here is afamily of GaAs MMIC chips that can be applied to thesefuture satellitecommunications networks.