Thankfully, there is no need for Microsoft here Jeff. It is simply a matter of bent pipe transmission. Having said that, Gates will come up with Windows SAT which must be used for any movement of data over satellite!
As for demand/supply, the number of satellites that can do this job is not huge. You must be able to span an ocean, like Orion 1, so as to connect distant lands to the US backbone. Thus, your orbital slot is a huge factor, and those slots are finite. The transponder setup/aiming/beam coverage is also key. Orion 1 is perfect for connecting Europe to the US. Orion 3 will be excellent for Asia to the US. Of course, Intelsat has many applicable sats, and PanAmSat has a few as well. Connecting Latin America to the US is a bit easier, so there should be more competition there, but still demand is high here. Asia'a woes have certainly slowed satellite deployment, but also reduced demand. As you know, the "flood" in the satellite world comes very slowly as ramp-up times are sluggish at best. I think we have several good years left! After that, Skybridge and Teledesic will add a new twist to this business. |
