WelshFlyer, I too believe that verbal comms will remain in the future, but I can't see how on Earth (
sic) ground-based microwave could replace satellites. They are both line-of-sight, but satellites hold the advantage of having a somewhat broader horizon. Two-thirds of our planet is covered by water and then quite some more by deserts of both hot and cold variety. The sats have a distinct advantage there.
The relatively small high-density population regions, TMAs and towers will most likely end up on microwave, but the vast majority of global airspace will need spacecraft for communication, be it verbal or datalink. These systems are already well advanced in development, used operationally by many, and have already been defined. It is now just a matter of when, rather than if, they become globally adopted, with economics and politics controlling the rate of adoption.
There is still plenty of time remaining, however, to hone those skills on NDBs, VORs and Tacans, and of course HF, V/UHF and the phonetic alphabet
Just to keep it vaguely on topic, I tend to say
Pa-Pah,
Ke-bek ----- and
Nine-er whenever comms or "local conditions" may be in doubt.
Sadly,
Bern Oulli,
Fox Easy is but a fond and distant memory for many of us, but also still surviving!