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LEO, MEO and GEO

Satellite connectivity for IoT

LEO (Low Earth Orbit), MEO (Medium Earth Orbit) and GEO (Geostationary Orbit), and satellites all play important roles in providing connectivity for IoT (Internet of Things) devices, particularly in remote areas where traditional terrestrial infrastructure is unavailable or impractical. Here’s an overview of each type and how they contribute to satellite-based IoT connectivity:

LEO (Low Earth Orbit) Satellites

LEO is home to thousands of satellites, mainly used for scientific research, imaging, and low-bandwidth communication. The next wave of HTS LEO satellites is aimed at transforming the communication landscape by delivering broadband internet to both mass-market consumers and enterprises.

  • Orbit Height: LEO satellites operate at altitudes ranging from 160 to 2,000 km above the Earth.
  • Latency: Due to their proximity to Earth, LEO satellites provide low latency (often under 50 milliseconds), making them well-suited for real-time applications, such as IoT tracking and monitoring.
  • Coverage: LEO satellites cover relatively small areas, so they need to operate in constellations (many satellites working together) to provide regular or continuous global coverage.
  • Examples: Companies like SpaceX’s Starlink, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and OneWeb are deploying large LEO constellations to provide broadband services. Astrocast, Myriota and Lacuna are examples of LEO satellite operators for IoT services.

Advantages for IoT:

Low Latency: Ideal for applications such as asset tracking, remote monitoring, and certain types of automation. Some satellite operators with smaller constellations may only send packets of data every hour or even only once per day. These low power low cost solutions still cover many example use cases for IoT in remote locations.

Global Coverage: Can reach even the most remote areas (deserts, oceans, mountains).

Use Cases: LEO satellites are particularly useful for IoT devices in agriculture, energy, utilities, environmental monitoring, and logistics.

MEO (Medium Earth Orbit) Satellites

  • Orbit Height: MEO satellites typically operate at altitudes between 2,000 and 35,786 km, placing them between LEO and GEO satellites in terms of distance.
  • Latency: MEO satellites have moderate latency (typically around 100-150 milliseconds) and with higher throughput.
  • Coverage: MEO satellites cover larger areas than LEO satellites but smaller than GEO satellites. Fewer satellites are needed compared to LEO constellations to provide global coverage.
  • Examples: O3b by SES is a well-known MEO satellite network. Another is Echostar IoT S-band connectivity service covering underserved and remote regions.

Advantages for IoT:

Balanced Latency and Coverage: MEO satellites offer a compromise between the LEO and the wide coverage of GEO, making them ideal for mid-latency IoT applications.

Global Reach: While fewer satellites are needed compared to LEO constellations, MEO satellites can provide consistent, widespread coverage.

Use Cases: MEO satellites are ideal for maritime IoT, aircraft tracking, logistics, and other scenarios requiring moderate data transmission speeds and wider geographic coverage.

GEO (Geostationary Orbit) Satellites

  • Orbit Height: GEO satellites orbit at 35,786 km above the Earth, maintaining a fixed position relative to the Earth’s surface.
  • Latency: The large distance from Earth results in higher latency (typically 500-600 milliseconds), making them less suitable for real-time IoT applications but still effective for many other use cases.
  • Coverage: GEO satellites have a very large coverage area, with a single satellite covering about one-third of the Earth’s surface.
  • Examples: Providers like Inmarsat and HughesNet use GEO satellites for satellite communication, including IoT.

Advantages for IoT:

Wide Coverage: One satellite can cover large geographical areas, making them efficient for wide-area IoT applications like maritime tracking, fleet management, and disaster recovery.

Established Infrastructure: GEO satellite communication has been around for decades and provides reliable connectivity for non-latency-sensitive IoT applications.

Use Cases: GEO satellites are well-suited for stationary IoT applications such as smart grids, oil rig monitoring, agricultural sensors, and environmental monitoring systems.

IoT Use Cases for Satellite Connectivity

Satellite connectivity is crucial for enabling IoT devices in remote and challenging environments where terrestrial networks like cellular and fiber are not feasible. Here are some common IoT applications for satellite-based connectivity across LEO, GEO, and MEO satellites:

Agriculture:

Monitoring of soil moisture, crop health, and livestock in remote farms.
Automated irrigation systems driven by IoT sensors to optimize water usage.

Logistics and Supply Chain:

Tracking of cargo and vehicles in real-time across land, sea, and air.
Ensuring the integrity and location of high-value or perishable goods in transit.

Environmental Monitoring:

Tracking wildlife populations and migration patterns.
Monitoring deforestation, air quality, and water levels in remote areas.

Maritime and Aviation:

Real-time tracking of ships, aircraft, and containers in global transit.
Safety and navigation enhancements for vessels and planes using IoT sensors.

Smart Infrastructure and Utilities:

Remote monitoring of critical infrastructure like pipelines, power grids, and oil rigs.
Early detection of faults or leaks in gas, water, or electricity grids.

Disaster Management:

Rapid deployment of IoT sensors in disaster-stricken areas to monitor environmental conditions, and aid in coordination efforts.

Conclusion:

  • LEO satellites are best for low-latency, real-time applications like mobile IoT devices, asset tracking, and monitoring in remote areas.
  • MEO satellites provide a middle ground, balancing latency and coverage, which is ideal for global IoT applications like maritime and aviation tracking.
  • GEO satellites are ideal for broad coverage, especially for stationary IoT devices and industrial IoT.

The growing integration of IoT with satellite networks, especially LEO constellations, is set to revolutionize remote connectivity, providing more reliable, low cost and widespread solutions for global IoT deployments.