What is LEO (Low Earth Orbit)

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Discover how Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites enhance global IoT connectivity, offering low-latency communication for remote and mobile applications beyond traditional networks.

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) refers to a category of satellites that orbit the Earth at relatively low altitudes, typically between 160km and 2,000km above the Earth’s surface. LEO satellites are a key enabler of global IoT connectivity, providing low-latency, high-performance communication anywhere on the planet.

How do Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites work?

LEO satellites operate much closer to Earth than traditional satellite systems, such as geostationary (GEO) satellites, which orbit at approximately 35,786km.

Because of this proximity, LEO satellites offer significant performance advantages for connectivity:

Lower latency (reduced signal travel time)
Higher data throughput
More responsive, near real-time communication.

LEO satellite connectivity supports IoT deployments in remote, mobile and infrastructure-limited environments, including:

Maritime and offshore operations
Logistics and cross-border transport
Energy, utilities and remote infrastructure
Agriculture and rural deployments.

These are areas where traditional cellular networks are unavailable, unreliable or too costly to deploy.

LEO satellites play a critical role in enabling reliable, scalable and global IoT deployments. They allow organisations to:

Achieve global device coverage, including hard-to-reach locations
Maintain real-time visibility of remote and moving assets
Ensure business continuity beyond terrestrial network limitations
Reduce latency compared to traditional satellite (GEO) systems
Build resilient hybrid connectivity strategies combining cellular and satellite.

As IoT deployments scale across regions and borders, LEO provides a flexible alternative to relying solely on local mobile network operators.

LEO satellites operate as part of large constellations, with multiple satellites orbiting the Earth in coordinated patterns. As one satellite moves out of range, another moves into position, ensuring continuous coverage.

For IoT devices, connectivity typically involves:

A compatible satellite modem or module
A satellite-enabled SIM or eSIM
A gateway to route traffic between the satellite network and cloud platforms.

Connectivity type	Infrastructure	Typical latency	Coverage	Best suited for
LEO satellite	160–2,000km orbit	Low	Global	Real-time remote IoT, mobile assets
GEO satellite	35,786km orbit	High	Global	Broadcast, fixed satellite services
Cellular (4G/5G)	Ground-based towers	Very low	Regional / national	Urban & suburban IoT deployments
LPWAN	Local gateways	Very low	Localised	Low-power, short-range use cases

LEO effectively bridges the gap between terrestrial networks and traditional satellite systems — combining global reach with improved performance.

Lower latency

Because LEO satellites orbit closer to Earth, signal travel time is significantly reduced compared to GEO satellites. This enables faster communication and improved application responsiveness.

Global coverage

Constellations provide continuous worldwide coverage, including oceans, deserts, mountains and remote industrial sites.

Mobility support

LEO connectivity supports moving assets such as ships, vehicles and heavy equipment operating across borders or offshore.

LEO connectivity is particularly valuable in environments where terrestrial networks cannot guarantee consistent service.

Energy and utilities
Remote monitoring of pipelines, substations, offshore wind farms and renewable energy assets.

Maritime and offshore
Vessel tracking, engine diagnostics and operational data transmission at sea.

Agriculture
Smart farming equipment, environmental sensors and livestock tracking in rural areas.

For many organisations, LEO is not a replacement for cellular connectivity — it is a complementary layer.

Hybrid cellular-satellite solutions allow IoT devices to prioritise terrestrial networks where available and automatically switch to satellite when needed. This approach:

Maximises uptime
Reduces operational risk
Supports mission-critical applications
Enables global deployment with a single connectivity strategy.

As satellite technology evolves and constellations expand, LEO is becoming an increasingly viable and scalable option for mainstream IoT deployments.

What is LEO (Low Earth Orbit)?

Discover how Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites enhance global IoT connectivity, offering low-latency communication for remote and mobile applications beyond traditional networks.