For StarLink, SpaceX anticipates a latency of 25ms, which will be competitive with 5G and fixed broadband services and, at much less than the typical delays in GEO-systems with around 500ms, will enable better performance of interactive applications. Since a LEO-satellite’s altitude is just 3% of a GEO-satellite, the roundtrip delays will be much shorter, a significant benefit for real-time communication. The new LEO systems should expect to face fierce competitions from O3b, looking to expand its network of satellites in MEO orbit and existing GEO-operators like Inmarsat and SES, continuing to invest in larger and increasingly powerful GEO-satellites. The most well-known frontrunners are OneWeb and StarLink, but many others aim to make similar systems, for example LeoSat, TeleSat(Canada) and Honyan (China). There are now several new initiatives based on mega-constellations of small satellites in LEO planned to be put into service during the next decade, starting with a focus on the satellites themselves. ![]() In turn, many ground stations are needed to communicate with all these satellites, orbital positions and frequencies, needing careful management to avoid interference.an advantage with LEO constellations is that they can provide true-global coverage including the polar areas. LEO satellites orbit the Earth many times per day, so as each satellite flies over the coverage area, another one must follow behind it, ready to take over the operation (communication or monitoring) once the first satellite has passed the area. The downside with LEO is that many satellites are needed to service a specific geographical area at any given time. ![]() Whereas, for example, a GEO-based high throughput satellites can be compared to the size and weight of a bus, a small LEO communication satellites is more like a motor-bike. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites are smaller than their Medium Earth Orbit and Geostationary Equatorial Orbit (GEO) counterparts and their orbits are much closer to Earth, so the rockets needed to launch them are also smaller and cheaper. Due to the miniaturization of once-bulky satellite components, standardization, and substantially trimmed costs due to advances in design and manufacturing, the interest in small satellites (typically under 500 kilograms) has grown. Instead of launching few, complex, large and expensive spacecrafts, the trend is now towards the deployment of smaller, simpler and less expensive satellites. In recent years the space industry has undergone a dramatic transformation. The trend towards smaller satellites has not only reduced the costs of building, launching and operating satellites, but has also enabled faster and more flexible deployment and made satellite mega-constellations feasible.
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