COMMUNICATION CONFERENCE

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29803, 21 April 1962, Page 13

COMMUNICATION CONFERENCE

Satellite System “In Some Years” (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 20. It might take some years before a satisfactory commercial system of satellite communication could be established, said the Post-master-General, Mr Kinsella, tonight in a statement reporting the results of the Commonwealth conference on satellite communications, which took place in London early this month. Mr Kinsella said that the conference recognised the advantage of a satellite system "based on stabilised active satellites in equatorial orbit in the height range of 5000 to 10,000 nautical miles.” The conference recognised that any commercial satellite system should serve as many countries as possible and should have maximum flexibility. It recommended early discussions with the United States and European countries in the hope that a pooling of effort would achieve the best world-wide system of satellite communications. Use For Cables Mr Kinsella said the conference saw a bright future for telephone and Telex communications and felt that satellite communication could well be financially profitable within a few years of its establishment. The posibilities of television relays were also thought to be bright.

Satellite communication and submarine telephone cable systems would be complementary, the conference considered. Delegates had regard throughout the discussions to the projected cable developments both by the Commonwealth and other countries. Research and development work on submarine cables should be con. tinued.