THIS PAPER describes a millimeter-wave personal radio system using a communications satellite. It focuses on the development of a 50/40-GHz-band earth station. First, the trends of future satellite services are discussed. Satellite communications will be ready for personal utilization, namely the personalization of satellite communications, in the near future. The idea of a personal radio using a satellite and an example of an advanced communications satellite are introduced. The communications system and access method are also discussed and an FDMA system is recommended. Second, a small earth station for the millimeter-wave personal radio is proposed which has a 30-cm-diameter antenna, a transmission rate of 64 kb/s for wide applications, direct FSK modulation in the RF stage, the local signal fed from the transmit system, and link availability of 99%.