Abstract

Recent advances in the commercial satellite communications industry have significantly enhanced the value-proposition and economics available to mission critical remote operations.  No longer just the link of last resort, new low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations have made satellite communications a competitive alternative to traditional wireline and wireless technologies.  LEO satellite services offer easy-to-use terminals, 100Mbps+ data rates, and latency comparable to global fiber networks.  Depending on the service package, price points can entice even budget conscious customers. 

Perhaps the most intriguing innovations incorporate LEO into a multi-orbit connectivity solution that combines several technologies into a seamless communications service.  This architecture enables customers to leverage the best the commercial industry has to offer across multiple satellite platforms.  In addition to increasing total aggregate bandwidth, combining orbital technologies provides true resiliency, through the integration of redundant and independent satellite networks.

However, there are important considerations and trade-offs for each satellite technology.  Leveraging the combined capabilities of a multi-orbit solution requires a holistic approach and an understanding of the real-world implementation requirements.