SIRIUS' new satellite, a geostationary one as opposed to their current elliptical setup - meant to compliment their satellite constellation - is set to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2008. In preparation for that, SIRIUS has requested authority to launch the new bird... and as a result, we learn something very interesting.

This new satellite - as well as the current satellites - will use a fancy "overlay modulation" technique, which will add an additional 1.35 Mb/s throughput. That's an additional 30% increase in throughput, and that's set to rollout as early as next year.

The reason? Most likely it's the SIRIUS Satellite Video that we've been hearing so much about. Afterall, the ability to download The Backyardigans while driving in your 2008 Jeep definitely will require some additional bandwidth... no doubt we'll see some sound quality improvements from this as well.

[via Satellite Radio TechWorld]