Comsat, based in Washington, sells satellite capacity for international communications networks.

Home users tend to use shared satellite capacity to reduce the cost, while still allowing high peak bit rates when congestion is absent.

Such satellite capacity is widely available worldwide in a competitive market.

Even with its ample satellite capacity, Sky could never transmit the more than 2,000 local stations across the country.

If the legal effort fails, Tele-Communications may still be able to lease or buy other satellite capacity.

In addition, satellite capacity could become a limiting factor.

Intelsat is acquiring new satellite capacity, particularly to bolster its coverage over Asia.

And with digital "compression" technology, the new system will multiply the satellite capacity more than fourfold.

The consortium plans to begin operations using leased satellite capacity for data communications.

Its near-monopoly of Asian satellite capacity will end, however, when several new satellites are placed into orbit over the continent during the next few years.