What Is Low Earth Orbit (LEO)?

The space above the Earth is ample. Big. So big that a single satellite can't cover all of it. That's where low earth orbit (LEO) satellites come in. They're the satellites that hang out at an altitude of 300 miles up to 1,491 miles—and they're the ones that let you watch TV on your phone while you sit on the beach. It's also where non-terrestrial networks (NTN) live: constellations or swarms of satellites that are part of a more extensive communications system and help us keep tabs on what's happening worldwide. When it comes to making connections, there's no place like home. If you're in an area that doesn't have access to landline broadband, you might feel like you're stuck in a black hole. Now, thanks to LEOs, there's a way out! LEO constellations can provide satellite broadband service to areas where it otherwise would be too costly or impossible to lay landlines. LEOs, not fixed in space concerning the planet's surface, are known for providing faster throughput and less latency than traditional geostationary (GEO) satellites because they orbit over 60 times closer to the Earth's surface. There are many reasons to love the LEO satellite node network. The first is that it's literally above your head. It's easy to forget that we're living in the future, but having a network of satellites orbiting the Earth just above us is a clear reminder that we've entered an era in which technology has transformed our lives in ways we could never have imagined. We're not just talking about how many emails you can send at once or whether your phone will be able to charge in five minutes or less—we're talking about something that impacts everyone, regardless of their income level or social status: access to information. Thanks to LEO satellite nodes, you can get instant access to the internet from anywhere on Earth—including places where it was previously impossible or cost-prohibitive (like Antarctica).