LEO SATELLITES AT WORK

alleviating global food insecurity

Digital technologies and broadband internet are revolutionizing farming and agricultural practices — from connected sensors that monitor crop yields, microclimates, storage facilities or livestock to precision seeding and autonomous vehicles. But these promising advances are being held back by insufficient rural broadband access.

Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites will provide fast, affordable and reliable broadband to rural areas that are underserved by other technologies and enable connectivity across even expansive lands and large properties. LEO technology will empower farmers and producers with the modern connectivity they need to thrive and alleviate global food shortages.

LEO satellites have already started to offer reliable connectivity to remote locations without increasing the cost and energy consumption of IoT nodes for soil detection to livestock analysis.

Revolutionizing Agriculture:
The Game-Changing Impact of Satellite Internet of Things

Satellite internet is generally less affected by terrain than fixed wireless because it relies on signals transmitted from orbiting satellites, rather than on ground-based relay towers. This makes it a more suitable option for mountainous regions, where the line of sight needed for fixed wireless connections might be obstructed by the terrain.

Revolutionizing Agriculture Requires Rethinking Rural Connectivity

Case Study: Farming

In rural regions, LEOs’ impact on agricultural efficiencies is helping change the game in farming. Jacquelyne Leffler, who runs Leffler Farms in rural Kansas, said “[b]efore Starlink, it was faster for me to download our farm data to a flash drive and mail it…Starlink has been incredible in helping us stay connected to the world – even if we are rural.”

Staying Connected in Crisis

Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology is a critical tool to save lives and keep us connected during crises. Because LEO satellites are less dependent on terrestrial infrastructure, they can provide ongoing connectivity during natural disasters — times when maintaining communication is especially critical and when other broadband technologies can often fail. LEO technologies empower first responders, healthcare facilities and other key institutions to stay online and connected globally, even in hard-to-reach areas or when on the move.

I only have internet here. It was so important for my family to know we’re safe,’ said Kathy Watkins. The road ahead for Damascus as the town rebuilds is long, but thanks to a mobile satellite WIFI unit, residents are now able to connect to the ones they love.

Satellite Internet Reconnects Families After The Storm

Case Study: Hurricane Helene

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene stormed the Southeast Coast and hit North Carolina especially hard. Traditional broadband and cell service went offline for days — and in some places, for weeks. But LEOs were there to help. Using LEO satellite technology, Maggie Watkins, a resident of rural Swannanoa, North Carolina was able to stay connected and confirm that her family was okay after the storm.

Internet on the Go

Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites provide fast, affordable broadband access — anywhere. LEO satellites are also making the world of travel safer by keeping people connected to GPS and emergency services. This includes places and applications where high-speed internet has previously been spotty, unreliable or unavailable.

Even though I mostly used the Wi-Fi for entertainment, this has massive implications for people who need to get work done on a plane, as you could successfully load up and work on projects across any app or service.

I Just Experienced Actual High-Speed Internet On A Plane

Case Study: 2024 Baja 1000

In the 2024 Baja 1000, an off-road bike race on the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico, Ben Hundter, a diabetic racer, raced with a LEO satellite terminal duct taped to his helmet so his mom could ride along and monitor his condition. Hundter said “I wanted to race the Baja so bad, but my mom wouldn’t let me because I have Type 1 Diabetes. She said the only way I could race it is if I was live streaming to her the whole time, so I have her on my chest right now.” He finished second in class.

Bridging the Digital Divide

LEO technology can give everyone, everywhere, the opportunity to access fast, affordable broadband — including regions and communities across the world where it is unfeasible or impossible to extend other technologies due to geographic barriers or economic factors. LEO satellites have the potential to play a pivotal role in helping to close the digital divide by providing a new, reliable and cost-effective broadband option to previously underserved or unserved areas.

According to a press release, while most projects will be fiber-based, BEAD recipients will use a mix of technologies, including “fiber optic, hybrid-fiber-coax, licensed and unlicensed fixed wireless, and satellite technologies to meet the connectivity requirements of the BEAD program.

Cox, Amazon, AT&T to get BEAD Grants in Nevada

Case Study: Education

LEOs are expanding educational opportunities for students around the world. In 2024, Girls With Books was able to install internet connection in South Sudan through one LEO satellite broadband provider, making education more accessible in an area where currently, 84 percent of girls over the age of 15 are illiterate.

Case Study: Telehealth

LEO broadband is transforming telehealth in Zimbabwe. High-speed internet from one LEO provider allows communities to set up telehealth booths so rural residents no longer have to travel into the city to seek medical care.