Abstract: A communication system including a constellation of a plurality of artificial satellites orbiting the Earth, each artificial satellite having communication apparatus providing communication with the Earth, characterized in that the plurality of artificial satellites are in triply-geosynchronous (TGS) orbits having a period of eight sidereal hours, or twice-triply-geosynchronous (TTGS) orbits having a period of sixteen sidereal hours, which orbits are inclined with respect to the Equator and synchronized with the Earth's rotation such as to exploit the natural spacing of approximately 120.degree. in longitude of the major land masses of Europe, North America and the Far East for communication with the artificial satellites to provide for higher elevation angles in such land masses than in other areas.