The digital divide still leaves too many disconnected from the benefits of modern communications. Significant and stubborn challenges have left 2.6 billion people globally either underserved or totally unserved by traditional broadband options, including high deployment costs, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, funding gaps and lengthy permitting processes.

And even in areas that are served by traditional ground-based broadband infrastructure, emergency situations such as power outages or extreme weather can render those options unusable.

There is a clear need to continue adding new technologies into our broadband mix — particularly LEO satellite broadband, which has unique potential to help connect everyone, everywhere.

How LEO Satellites Are Different

• Less reliant on terrestrial infrastructure: Anyone on the planet with the right terminal – a small receiver about the size of a plate – and the ability to power it can connect to satellite broadband.
• Operate at much lower altitudes than older satellites and in greater numbers enabling them to deliver faster, lower latency connectivity with fewer signal interruptions.
• Quicker and less expensive to deploy than other satellite types.
• Cutting-edge on-board systems maximize coverage and connectivity, including phased array antennas that dynamically direct bandwidth where it’s needed most.
• Constellations work in concert, creating a resilient, interconnected network with built-in redundancy if one satellite goes offline.

How LEO Broadband Fills The Gap

• LEO systems deliver broadband to rural, tribal and geographically isolated areas where building traditional networks is not feasible.
• In areas where other technologies may eventually reach after new infrastructure can be constructed, LEO broadband can get customers online today.
• Whether a passenger is traveling by car, plane, ship or train, LEO satellites bring streaming-speed, even in the world’s most remote locations.
• LEO satellites can rapidly restore communications when terrestrial networks are damaged or overloaded due to hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, floods, avalanches, storms at sea, earthquakes or other natural disasters, supporting first responders and communities in crisis situations.