Given our current technologies with respect to UAVs, they would certainly be a more cost-effective alternative to the communications satellites of the 1970s!
However, today's communication satellites have massively greater bandwidths and orbital longevity.
Still, what most people don't realize is that communications satellites no longer carry phone and Internet signals around the world, at least not much. The vast majority is carried by fiber optic, not only throughout most countries, but also between nearly all countries, including numerous undersea trunklines between major countries like the US, UK, S. Korea, Japan, Australia, India, and the many others who're thoroughly connected these days.
As for the rest, a lot of communication runs are still made via microwave relay towers, which form the backbone of cellular phone communications in developing countries.
So! Where does that leave us with respect to communications satellites? Well, aside from satellite TV, which is still huge due to the subscriber area, even in rural areas (I think half the folks in my apartment complex have dish, as it's simply either better, cheaper, or both, despite the fact we're wired for cable six ways to Sunday), I think a lot of satellite communications is going by the wayside. Of course there's XM, but HD radio is growing rapidly, and free (aside from the commercials). XD never positioned itself as an economical replacement.
You know what, rm446, if someone develops, not drones, but simple hydrogen balloons, somewhat steerable and primarily by means of stratospheric currents, I might see them, possibly, as an economically viable alternative to comm satellites or the other alternatives, which everyone and their brother seem to be embracing these days.
Let's face it - we love free. If a radio station wants to throw in a few commercials to pay for HD radio, most of us will settle for that over paying $30 or more a month for "perfect" satellite stereo (XM) radio.
As for me, I'm mostly here at my desk, not driving around, so I get full 1080p (full HD) for many things I enjoy seeing, and via numerous means, mostly through the Internet, and often (usually) for much less than what my parents pay for cable. As for my favorite TV shows, they just don't require HD! Yes, sometimes I must wait for a download, but these days for a couple hour movie, it takes just a few minutes.
I think the cable companies are missing MASSIVE beats by not simply opening the floodgates to digital content viewable on demand on one's computer.
The wave of the future isn't in space, or even on UAVs. It's on the hardline, in fiber optic to one's door (eventually, though cable to my door has proven ridiculously fast).
