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SOLUTION

SOLUTION: Why Low Earth Orbit Satellite (LEO)?

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites are miniaturized, orbiting versions that operate between 500 and 2000 kilometers above Earth’s surface and weigh under 500kg.

Due to its low orbit, latency is significantly reduced as the satellite is better positioned to quickly receive and transmit data. Generally, fiber's latency speed is slightly faster than that of cable internet, which is usually around 30ms. However, recently satellite tech is advancing; for instance, US satellite internet service Starlink, is expected to launch with a latency below 20 ms and possibly lower in the future.

LEO satellites continuously hand off communication signals and traffic across a constellation of satellites. This ensures seamless, wide-scale coverage over a pre-defined geographical area. Not only is the inter-satellite solution providing better latency performance, it also guarantees a much better level of security by avoiding ground stations .

Better Spectrum

LEO mainly use Ka band and some V band as well. These frequencies enable higher data rates, smaller antennas, narrower beams, greater security and less vulnerable to weather and rain fade. In addition to better use of spectrum, the advancement of active antennas and processing have raised throughput per individual satellite and increasing constellation capacity.

Better Tracking & Network Access

As there will be large numbers of satellites, LEO are better compatible with antennas Electronically Scanned Apertures (ESAs), also called Electronically Steerable Antennas, which can shift beams and track and access large numbers of satellites without physical movement as opposed to the traditional parabolic-dish antennas.

Better Management

By leveraging the advancement of analytics, combined with improved computing power and artificial-intelligence (AI) algorithms, response times and operating costs can be reduced.

Likewise, the throughput increase by Intersatellite Link (ISL) also reduces backhaul costs, improve satellite control and network latency.

Combining these elements would promote the autonomous and semiautonomous control and management of spacecraft, thereby reducing staffing requirements.

Key Points to take away

  • Low Latency

  • Light Weight

  • Reduces Processing Power

  • Enables Higher Throughput (HTS)

  • Rapid Deployment

  • Low Variable Costs

  • Allows Backhaul to Remote Locations

  • Higher level of Security by avoiding ground stations

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