That pesky last mile: Call termination strategies for mobile satellite systems

This article will examine call termination strategies of several representative mobile satellite service (MSS) operators with an eye towards identifying the strengths and weaknesses of their terrestrial call routing strategies. MSS traffic must easily flow into and out from public switched telephone networks even if it triggers an accounting rate settlement. To provide a flat, per minute rate of $3.00 or less per minute, MSS operators must recognize the strategic importance of where they install gateways, and the potentially adverse financial impact of the current accounting rate regime.