Main Goal: Also known as the WorldSpace system, it was specifically designed to provide digital audio and data directly from satellites to inexpensive portable and fixed receivers.

Unlike systems designed for hybrid satellite and ground-based use, System Ds was engineered to specialize in pure satellite delivery. Its design choices reflect a focus on performance and affordability for a satellite-only service.

• Optimized for Satellite This system was built to achieve optimal performance for satellite service in the 1452-1492 MHz frequency band. The entire design, from signal coding to transmission, was fine-tuned for the unique challenges and characteristics of broadcasting directly from a satellite to small receivers on the ground.
• Popular Audio Format System Ds uses MPEG Layer III (commonly known as MP3) for its audio coding, and the specifications also included the use of MPEG-2.5 Layer III for certain functions. This is a highly efficient and very popular audio format that allows for high-quality sound at low bit rates, which is crucial for broadcasting many channels at once from a satellite with limited bandwidth.

The satellite-only focus of System Ds made it effective in open areas, but its performance could suffer in cities. The next system was created as a direct evolution to solve that exact problem.