LEO satellite internet is broadband delivered through large constellations of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), relatively close to Earth, typically a few hundred to around two thousand kilometers up. Because the satellites are much closer than traditional geostationary satellites, latency is typically far lower, often close to terrestrial broadband. LEO service has made satellite a practical option for remote sites, temporary locations and backup links where fiber, cable or fixed wireless cannot reach.
At a glance
- LEO satellites orbit far closer to Earth than geostationary (GEO) satellites, so round-trip latency is typically much lower.
- A site needs a user terminal with a clear view of the sky, power and a connection to its router.
- Speeds and latency vary by location, plan, weather, obstructions and network load; many plans are best effort.
- Business plans, SLAs, committed rates and static IP options vary by provider and are not offered on every plan.
- LEO is often used for remote sites, temporary sites and diverse backup links.
What problem it solves
Many businesses have locations where terrestrial connectivity is poor: rural branches, construction sites, farms, utility facilities, vessels or temporary events. Traditional satellite internet reached these places, but its geostationary satellites sit so far away that every request takes a noticeable round trip. Video calls lag, VPNs struggle and interactive cloud applications feel slow.
LEO constellations cut that distance dramatically. Lower latency and higher speeds make satellite usable for modern business applications. LEO also offers something terrestrial services often cannot: a connection that does not share conduits, poles or local exchanges with the site’s fiber or cable, which makes it attractive as a backup.
How it works
Constellation. Instead of a few satellites in fixed positions, LEO systems use many satellites moving quickly across the sky. Any given site sees different satellites over time, and the network hands the connection from one satellite to the next.
User terminal. A flat or dish antenna at the site tracks satellites electronically. It needs a clear view of a wide area of sky; trees, buildings and other obstructions can interrupt service. The terminal connects to a router, either supplied by the provider or the customer’s own.
Ground network. Satellites relay traffic to ground stations (gateways) connected to the internet, and some constellations pass traffic between satellites using laser links. Gateway locations and routing affect latency and which country your traffic appears to come from.
Performance. Speeds and latency vary with plan, location, weather, obstructions and how many users share capacity in the area. Uploads are usually slower than downloads. Many residential and small-business plans are best effort; some providers sell business tiers with priority data, static IP addresses or service commitments.
Regulation. Satellite services need licenses in each country, and availability, permitted uses and terminal rules vary by country. Check that service is authorized where you plan to use it, including at sea or across borders.
To compare LEO with fixed wireless, cable and fiber options for a site, see our Fixed Wireless solution page.
When it matters for buyers
- Remote or rural sites. LEO may be the fastest or only practical option where terrestrial service is poor.
- Diverse backup. Pairing a LEO link with fiber or cable provides path diversity that two terrestrial circuits may not. Use it alongside, or instead of, cellular failover depending on local signal.
- Temporary and mobile sites. Construction, events and disaster recovery sites can get service quickly.
- Replacing GEO satellite. Sites on older satellite service may see large improvements in latency and speed.
- Mission-critical uses. Before relying on LEO as a primary link, check the SLA, support model and performance at peak times.
Questions to ask vendors
- Is service available and licensed at our locations, and what speeds and latency can we expect there?
- Is the plan best effort, or does it include priority data, committed rates or an SLA?
- Are static or public IP addresses available, or is the service behind carrier-grade NAT?
- What are the data caps, fair-use rules or deprioritization thresholds?
- What hardware is required, who installs it, and what power and mounting does it need?
- How are outages and support handled, and what are the response times for business customers?
How it differs from fixed wireless
Fixed wireless sends a radio signal from a nearby tower or rooftop to an antenna on your building, so it needs line of sight to a local base station and the provider’s ground network in the area. LEO uses satellites, so it can reach places with no local towers, at the cost of a terminal that needs a wide view of the sky and performance that can vary with constellation load. Fixed wireless often offers business SLAs and committed rates; LEO plans more often run on a best-effort basis, though that varies by provider.