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Discuss the similarities and differences between a conventional cellular radio system and a space-based (satellite) cellular radio system.

Sneha Mishra

April 5, 2023

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Question asked in the end semester examination for the paper Wireless Communication in AKU Patna

Question. Discuss the similarities and differences between a conventional cellular radio system and a space-based (satellite) cellular radio system. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each system? Which system could support a larger number of users for a given frequency allocation and why? How would this impact the cost of service for each subscriber?

Answer:

A conventional cellular radio system and a space-based (satellite) cellular radio system are two different types of wireless communication systems that have some similarities and differences.

Similarities:

1. Both systems use radio waves to transmit and receive signals between a mobile device and a network.
2. Both systems use cellular architecture to provide wireless communication services to users. In other words, both systems divide a geographical area into smaller cells, with each cell having its own base station to provide wireless coverage.
3. Both systems use similar cellular technologies such as FDMA, TDMA, and CDMA to allow multiple users to share the same frequency spectrum.

Differences:

1. A conventional cellular radio system uses land-based cell sites that communicate with mobile devices within the range of each cell, while a space-based cellular radio system uses satellites to communicate with mobile devices.
2. The range of coverage for a conventional cellular radio system is limited to a certain geographical area, while a space-based cellular radio system can provide coverage over a large area, including remote locations.
3. The propagation delay in a space-based cellular radio system is greater than in a conventional cellular radio system due to the longer path that the signal has to travel to reach the satellite and then back to Earth. This can cause latency issues in the space-based system.
4. The cost of building and maintaining a space-based cellular radio system is significantly higher than that of a conventional cellular radio system.

Advantages and Disadvantages:

1. The advantages of a conventional cellular radio system include lower cost, better call quality due to lower latency, and better coverage in urban areas where there are many cell sites.
2. The advantages of a space-based cellular radio system include global coverage and coverage in remote areas and better resilience in disaster situations where land-based infrastructure may be damaged or destroyed.
3. The disadvantages of a conventional cellular radio system include limited coverage in remote areas, susceptibility to interference in densely populated areas, and vulnerability to natural disasters.
4. The disadvantages of a space-based cellular radio system include higher cost, higher latency, and potential signal blockage in areas with tall buildings or natural obstacles.

In summary, while both conventional cellular radio systems and space-based cellular radio systems have their advantages and disadvantages, their differences in infrastructure, coverage area, and latency make them better suited for different scenarios.

Which system could support a larger number of users for a given frequency allocation and why?

A space-based cellular radio system can support a larger number of users for a given frequency allocation due to its larger coverage area.

A conventional cellular radio system divides the frequency spectrum into smaller chunks to support different cells, which limits the number of users that can be supported in each cell.

A space-based system, however, can use the entire frequency spectrum to support a large number of users over a wide area.

How would this impact the cost of service for each subscriber?

The cost of service for each subscriber would be lower in a conventional cellular radio system due to its lower cost of infrastructure and higher user density per cell.

In a space-based cellular radio system, the cost of infrastructure is higher, and the cost of each call is higher due to the higher latency and longer signal path.

Therefore, the cost of service for each subscriber would be higher in a space-based system compared to a conventional cellular radio system.