Obstacles to satellite communications

Third World nations which decide to get into satellite communications face significant obstacles to planning and implementing their programme. The main obstacles are cost, technological dependence and lack of skilled manpower. Other less direct problems have also to be dealt with, such as massive cultural dislocation which may result from the sudden introduction of space-age communications to remote areas little touched by the modern world. Also, monopolistic controls exercised over the space trade by large Western corporations must be faced.