Earth stations are a necessary link in the process of transmitting a satellite signal.
The new California earth station, for example, will turn the satellite signal to a Pacific Ocean satellite, which transmits to Pacific Rim nations including Australia and New Zealand, through to the Far East and Eastern Russia. Another earth station is currently being installed in Darmstadt, Germany, which will turn the signal to an Indian Ocean satellite that covers Africa, the Middle East, and the Euro-Asia region. The Adventist Church in South America has also operated an earth station for several years. The first satellite transmission using the new California earth station will take place May 12.