Low earth orbit satellites communicate directly with standard smartphones bypassing the need for traditional cell towers. LEO satellites move fast and are only visibile for a few minutes, operate in massive, connected constellations to ensure continuous service
trnasmit data to and from earth to provide internet connectivity
- type of fixed wireless access solution requiring a satellite dish to be mounted to buildings
- primarily used in remote locations that are unserved by wired internet access or cell towers
- spaceX has amassed more than 1.5 million subscribers since 2019
uses 3GPP 5G standards (Non-Terrestrial network or NTN features) ⇒ satellites are treated asa standard base station by phones
LEO satellites vs 5G leo: quick to deploy, high speed, low latency internet, accessible around the world 5G: ultra-low latency, high throughput, __network slicing
| leo satellites | 5g | |
|---|---|---|
| coverage | require a clear view of sky without any obstructions | can service populated areas. different types of 5g optimize performance and propagation differently dense area |
| usage | business continuity, part of network resilience strategy | mobile, IoT |
| performance | download speeds: 50-250 Mbps range in optimal conditions where there are no obstructions | average download speeds up to 2Gbps |
| capacity | virtually unlimited capacity optimizing traffic: network slciing (multiple networks created on top of a common physical infra) | |
| security features | lacking can connect a satellite gateway to a cellular router | |
| cost | cost grow as customer base grows |