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 provide another option to bring fast, affordable and reliable broadband to rural areas that are underserved by other technologies and enable connectivity across and even enable connectivity across expansive lands and large properties. Connectivity empowers farmers and producers with the 21st-century tools and efficiencies they need to thrive and alleviate global food shortages.

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

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

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

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.”

Case Study: Food Insecurity

Togo faced exacerbated food insecurity due to COVID-19 supply chain disruptions. A collaboration involving NASA Harvest, Planet Labs and the University of Maryland utilized LEO satellite technology to address this crisis. By leveraging high-resolution satellite imagery and advanced analytics, Togo authorities could make informed decisions about resource allocation and distribution, effectively mitigating the impact of the pandemic on food security.

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.

Case Study: Myanmar Earthquake

In March, India deployed internet connectivity provided by low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites for the first time to support emergency relief efforts. LEO connectivity allowed the teams in Myanmar to remain online and in communication throughout recovery operations.

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

Emphasizing the role of every connectivity technology, including LEO technology, in connectivity portfolios 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.

What you’re going to see, and what we’re already seeing, is that places we never thought could have broadband competition, particularly rural parts of this country, are actually going to be able to have competition. And it’s not competition that even had to be subsidized. At the highest level, this is a really exciting thing that satellite technologies have already brought to the United States.

FCC Space Bureau Chief, Jay Schwarz

Access to high-speed internet has become essential for all aspects of modern society — particularly in education…states [should] have flexibility to deploy funding to reach as many unserved and underserved communities as possible, including LEO satellites where they may make the most sense or are the only option.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski on the importance of connected education

Case Study: Education

In 2022, the Southeast Island District, a small school district in rural Alaska, saw an opportunity to slash costs and improve connectivity for the district by switching to LEO satellite internet. Today, Everett Cook, the district’s technology director, says the switch has resulted in “just a phenomenal increase. I haven’t heard anything about slow internet anymore … It’s affordable, it works really great, and parent communication is increasing because of it.”

Case Study: Telehealth

Reliable, high-speed internet from LEO satellites is transforming telehealth in rural Southwest Virginia by making telemedicine services accessible for underserved and remote communities, unlocking game-changing mobile health applications for virtual consultations, disease management and dedicated and timely patient care for anyone, anywhere.

Connecting the 21st Century Farm: Revolutionizing Agriculture With LEO Broadband

Connecting the Classroom: LEO Satellite Broadband and K-12 Education