Being able to communicate better with people all over the world helps countries develop trading opportunities, increase business, and get information they need. Many large companies also own and operate satellites. They may rent space on the satellite to other companies and businesses. For example, if you were the Indonesian telecommunications company, you might want your satellite signal to cover only Indonesia, and not spill over into other countries. The satellite signal can be shaped to cover the exact area that the operator wants to reach.
Some satellites can divide their signal into many movable spot beams.
Like a tight, bright flashlight beam, a spot beam can be aimed at an exact small area on earth, then moved elsewhere to reach new or different customers. The area of the earth's surface covered by a satellite's signal is called the satellite's footprint. Satellites have a great deal of equipment packed inside them. A satellite has seven subsystems, and each one has its own work to do. Satellites drift out of position because of solar wind or gravitational or magnetic forces.