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 | | The system includes a constellation of 77 small, smart satellites in low-earth orbit which are networked together as a switched digital communications system utilizing the principles of cellular diversity to provide continuous line-of-sight coverage from and to any point on the earth's surface, as well as all points within an altitude of about 100 miles. |
 | | Unlike the terrestrial cellular telephone system, Iridium is best suited for areas where the traffic density is low -- sparsely populated areas, the oceans, and areas where personal communications is just emerging. |
 | | In the case of cellular telephones, a static set of cells serves a large number of mobile users; in the case of Iridium, the users move at a relatively slow pace relative to the spacecraft, which move at about 7,400 meters per second, so the users appear static and the cells move. |
| massis.lcs.mit.edu /telecom-archives/archives/technical/iridium (2093 words) |
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