Low Latency Broadband Internet Satellite Constellations – Technology, Risks and Global Impact

To achieve global network coverage and meet the demands for high-speed
communications, technological improvements have to be made to the existing terrestrial network infrastructure. Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations have the potential to enable broadband access anywhere in the world and ensure short round-trip delays.
This paper investigates the technology behind communication satellite networks in low Earth orbits and estimates the impact that high-speed and widely accessible broadband can have globally. The analytical design of an optimal LEO satellite configuration for continuous global coverage is presented. The results show that in case the users are separated by the orbital seam where the adjacent orbital planes are counter-rotating and inter-satellite links (ISLs) are not supported, the latency is significantly increased.
Therefore, polar orbits are necessary to provide global coverage, but show low
performance in terms of latency. The optimal solution would be a hybrid constellation: polar orbits to cover high-latitude regions and inclined orbits to meet the data demands in densely populated areas. The presented analyses are used to explore the technology behind communication satellite networks in LEOs and understand their advantages over the existing terrestrial network infrastructure. The crucial part of this paper is the evaluation of risks that LEO satellite networks raise and how, if at all, they can be mitigated. Two main concerns regarding LEO constellations have been investigated – space debris and the effects on astronomical observations. To better understand the severity of the risks, SpaceX’s measures towards risk mitigation are discussed. In
summary, the aforementioned risks cannot be eliminated entirely; with today’s technology and the implementation of artificial intelligence, risk mitigation is promising. Nonetheless, the issue of space debris and effects on astronomical observations should not be trivialized.
Satellite technology is currently the only way to provide global connectivity and bridge the digital divide. Taking careful mitigating measures, the benefits of such technology outweigh the risks, and in order to bridge the existent digital gap, those trade-offs areultimately worth making.