{"id":60607,"date":"2020-01-22T01:48:43","date_gmt":"2020-01-21T17:48:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/leo-advances-on-the-ground\/"},"modified":"2020-01-22T01:48:43","modified_gmt":"2020-01-21T17:48:43","slug":"leo-advances-on-the-ground","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/leo-advances-on-the-ground\/","title":{"rendered":"LEO Advances on the Ground"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>2020 is set to be the year of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) as more providers build out their business cases and constellations for operating in LEO, a market that promises to deliver cost-effective, high-throughput connectivity and low latency to global users.<\/p>\n<p>According to Northern Sky Research (NSR), wholesale operator revenue from non-geostationary constellations is expected to post a compound annual growth rate of more than 40% during the next decade.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/K26ywEtNRkKRvAeSmiuI_VS_020120_Cover_DGTL-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"width: 120px; height: auto;\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/K26ywEtNRkKRvAeSmiuI_VS_020120_Cover_DGTL-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/K26ywEtNRkKRvAeSmiuI_VS_020120_Cover_DGTL-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/K26ywEtNRkKRvAeSmiuI_VS_020120_Cover_DGTL-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/K26ywEtNRkKRvAeSmiuI_VS_020120_Cover_DGTL.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"fs-5 mt-0\">Explore the February 2020 Issue<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-0 fs-smaller text-balance\">Check out more from this issue and find your next story to read.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<button class=\"btn btn-primary\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"offcanvas\" data-bs-target=\"#offcanvasMENU\" aria-controls=\"offcanvasExample\" aria-label=\"button\" style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tView More <i class=\"bi bi-arrow-right-circle\"><\/i><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/button><\/p>\n<p>Even as early LEO entrant LeoSat suspended operations after funding from operators in Spain and Japan fell through, the industry remains bullish on the future of the LEO market. Many in the industry share the widespread view that this new generation of low-cost, high-throughput networks will be part of the satellite landscape sooner rather than later.  <\/p>\n<p>In order to be successful, LEO providers need the ground segment to offer simpler, more integrated solutions at a lower cost. Here, Via Satellite talks to a handful of ground segment players about the crucial role antenna and gateway technology will have as the industry prepares for the coming LEO era.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s about integration, industrialization, and reduction of cost,\u201d observes Kirby Nell, director of LEO products for Cobham Satcom, a satellite and radio communication terminals provider with a dominant position in the maritime market. \u201cService providers now are pushing us towards integration.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6af66b3ea41;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6af66b3ea41 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6af66b3ea42').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6af66b3ea42'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A typical Geostationary Orbit (GEO) ground segment in the past featured distributed equipment \u2013 an antenna, interconnected RF and IF cables, a base station, and networking equipment \u2014 but no more. High Throughput Satellite (HTS) networks, especially those supporting LEO constellations, will integrate this technology into the user terminal. <\/p>\n<p>Nell points to ViaSat-2, which launched in 2017 to provide high-capacity broadband service, which has integrated the modulator and all the networking functions in the antenna.  \u201cIt\u2019s to drive down costs \u2013 to make the installations cheaper and easier, to make the subscriber-acquisition costs drop,\u201d he explains. <\/p>\n<p>The same driver will apply to the LEO ground segment. LEO operators are looking at different aspects of the market, from backhaul IoT applications, to consumer broadband internet, to the enterprise and \u201cvery high\u201d enterprise market.<\/p>\n<h3>Cost as the Common Driver <\/h3>\n<p>\u201cEach of the constellations is different \u2013 not only in frequency, but also in the way they are addressing the business,\u201d says Bill Milroy, chairman and CEO of ThinKom Solutions, a satellite system supplier serving both commercial and government ground segments. \u201cBut no matter which LEO go-to-market strategy companies are pursuing \u2014 across the board \u2014 everyone is cost sensitive,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"flex flex-col justify-center items-center w-full image-block px-8\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Placeholder alt text\" class=\"w-full object-cover mx-auto max-w-sm\" src=\"http:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TZhMuqNBSTeFTydTEhpK_Cobham_product_photo_-_Sea_Tel_Radome__Via_Satellite.png\"><figcaption class=\"p-3 bg-gray-300 bg-opacity-50 italic mx-auto max-w-sm\">Cobham Sea Tel antenna <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Because the market is so cost-driven, it\u2019s important that companies don\u2019t provide any more performance than absolutely necessary. \u201cThe key is to make the antennas and other ground systems as easy and as inexpensive as possible to install and manage,\u201d Milroy says.<\/p>\n<p>User terminals serving LEO constellations must accommodate a tremendous amount of switching from beam to beam, and satellite to satellite. <\/p>\n<p>Amir Yafe, head of Global Accounts for Gilat Satellite Networks, notes that LEOs will require an \u201corder-of-magnitude increase in the number of gateways and a two-orders-of-magnitude increase in the number of gateway antennas.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> \u201cThe whole system requires a fair degree of sophistication and computing power that\u2019s going to accommodate all this switching,\u201d says Dave Rehbehn, vice president of International at Hughes, which operates the Jupiter System VSAT platform.  <\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople want to see 25-megabit service plans and soon-to-be 100-megabit service plans,\u201d Rehbehn says. \u201cOperators want to get the maximum amount of efficiency from the ground system because even with a 500-plus gigabit satellite with our Jupiter-3 that we\u2019ll be launching in 2021, we still want to eke out as much capacity utilization as possible, so efficiency is important.\u201d <\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6af66b3efe6;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6af66b3efe6 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6af66b3efe7').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6af66b3efe7'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Rehbehn points to two key challenges facing the ground segment: accommodating the hand offs, and handling the complexity of knowing where satellites are at any one point in time to effectively manage satellite resource capacity. Hughes has already shipped the first gateways for OneWeb\u2019s 650-satellite constellation.  \u201cOne of the key metrics for these gateways is that each gateway is capable of 10,000 handoffs per second \u2013 many more handoffs than what\u2019s experienced in a typical terrestrial\/cellular base station,\u201d Rehbehn says.<\/p>\n<h3>Race for a New Kind of Steerable Antenna   <\/h3>\n<p>Rehbehn and other ground segment players agree that LEO constellations will need cheap, electronically steered antennas that can seamlessly switch from one satellite to another as they move across the sky.  <\/p>\n<p>Operators have options in the early days of deployment: they can initially use mechanically steered parabolic antennas or the currently available, but more expensive, electronically steerable antennas until the new market-disruptive, low-cost solutions deploy. <\/p>\n<p>Several ground system providers believe mechanically steerable antennas still can play a key role in LEO constellations. Cobham Satcom, for example, is pursuing electronically steerable antenna product development, while leveraging its maritime experience to offer mechanically steerable antennas to the LEO market.  \u201cThere\u2019s this perception \u2013 and it\u2019s the wrong perception \u2013 that mechanically steered antennas are going to fail. We have 30 years of maritime field data that demonstrate to customers that our antennas just don\u2019t fail,\u201d Nell says. <\/p>\n<p>Nell explains Cobham is currently looking to adapt its maritime antenna for the LEO market. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to find the fine line between reliability and cost,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>Electronically steerable arrays are ideal for terminals from 60 centimeters and down. However, \u201conce you get above 70 centimeters, the mechanically steered parabolic antennas have the performance advantage over steerable arrays,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<h3>Advances in Pointing Accuracy<\/h3>\n<p>Cobham has built an E-band tracking antenna at one meter that offers \u201cone hundred of degree of pointing accuracy when tracking a moving object.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn the GEO\/Ka-band space, you can be mis-pointed by as much as .1 or .2 degree. We have had to improve our pointing to be 10 times more accurate. We were able to do that quickly because of our maritime heritage,\u201d Nell says.<\/p>\n<p>ThinKom is another company that sees value in taking their proven GEO products, with minimal modification, to LEO operators. The company, whose fuselage-mounted Ku-band antennas systems power GoGo\u2019s in-flight broadband internet service, is currently developing fixed terminal solutions for LEO and Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) constellations, working closely with Telesat and SES on their LEO and MEO networks.<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6af66b3f3ed;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6af66b3f3ed = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6af66b3f3ee').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6af66b3f3ee'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Milroy says airlines have responded well to ThinKom\u2019s approach of offering GEO antennas that are also LEO and MEO capable, in contrast to many competitors in the aeronautical space looking to provide LEO-only solutions. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur approach has resonated really well with airlines \u2013 they don\u2019t want equipment that only works on a LEO or MEO constellation. We\u2019ve not seen anyone willing to abandon GEO capability for LEO,\u201d says Milroy. \u201cWe like to call our solution a no-compromise solution. You\u2019re getting best-in-class GEO capability in terms of throughput and spectral efficiency, and with all the agility and flexibility to fully exploit LEOs and MEOs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Milroy says ThinKom\u2019s 10-centimeter-high antennas use up to 90% less power than traditional electronic phased arrays.  <\/p>\n<h3>Proven LEO-Ready Modem Technology  <\/h3>\n<p>Beyond antennae technology, modem hardware also plays an important role. Hughes, a modem and ground system provider, has already begun shipping gateway systems for OneWeb. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"flex flex-col justify-center items-center w-full image-block px-8\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Placeholder alt text\" class=\"w-full object-cover mx-auto max-w-sm\" src=\"http:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3uuVf2LhS9q3VMzfjjzy_OneWeb_Gateway_from_Hughes.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"p-3 bg-gray-300 bg-opacity-50 italic mx-auto max-w-sm\">OneWeb Gateway from Hughes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In September, several companies, including Hughes and ThinKom, demonstrated the first-ever inflight roaming tests on SES\u2019s GEO and O3b MEO satellites in a test flights from South Florida to the Caribbean Sea. The in-flight demo used a Hughes\u2019 Jupiter System and a Hughes ModMan modem, integrated to the ThinKom Ka2517 phased array airborne antenna mounted on a Gulfstream G-III test aircraft.   <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn the course of this flight, the modem switched from SES GEO satellite to the SES O3b satellites and back many times in a near-flawless manner in addition to being able to perform the switching from GEO to MEO and MEO to GEO,\u201d recalls Rehbehn, noting that the companies also demonstrated 265 megabits of throughput to the aircraft. \u201cFrom a modem technology perspective, we understand how to do it and we have a high degree of confidence in the technology.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gilat, another leader in modem technology, has tested its modems in aero and maritime environments, as well as 5G connectivity over Telesat\u2019s Phase-1 LEO satellite.  In 2018, the company\u2019s modem helped demonstrate seamless connectivity and switchover between Telesat\u2019s GEO orbit and LEO satellites. This past May, the Israeli-based satellite networking firm successfully demonstrated 5G connectivity over a LEO satellite. The test, conducted by a tier-1 European operator at the 5G Innovation Centre at the University of Surrey in the U.K., demonstrated 5G backhauling over LEO with Gilat\u2019s modem.  <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are also revolutionizing our modem technology to deliver gigabit services,\u201d says  Gilat\u2019s Yafe. Without question, the LEO market is driving an increase in bandwidth requirements for the ground network \u2013 and much wider spectrum use.  <\/p>\n<p>John Golding, product manager with ViaLite, a satcom RF-over-fiber equipment provider, says one of the main expectations from LEO operators is for ground-segment systems equipment to be \u201cmore reliable for longer periods of time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6af66b3f9c6;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6af66b3f9c6 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6af66b3f9c7').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6af66b3f9c7'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re excellent at long distance, especially diverse links where you may have two ground station antennas in very different geographic locations hundreds of miles apart. ViaLite is able to maintain wide bandwidth connections at high frequencies for long distances, up to 600 km, over fiber,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>The LEO constellations require more network planning because operators must manage a whole constellation or network of teleport sites around the world. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot more to monitor so management resources have to scale easily,\u201d Golding explains.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"flex flex-col justify-center items-center w-full image-block px-8\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Placeholder alt text\" class=\"w-full object-cover mx-auto max-w-sm\" src=\"http:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/xX2beJXTo2BuvpXJUIfg_Vialite_-_System_Designer_screen.png\"><figcaption class=\"p-3 bg-gray-300 bg-opacity-50 italic mx-auto max-w-sm\">ViaLite system designer tool <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>To increase the reliability and maintainability of supporting a LEO ground segment installation, ViaLite has developed a System Designer tool. It gives LEO and other operators the ability to visualize the performance characteristics of their RF-over-fiber links within their network. The tool lets operators design a new system or recreate their own, and analyze its performance results to show where improvements can be made. The company also offers an RF-over-fiber system controller card, Horizons, which records the configuration of each slot within a ViaLite chassis. This allows operators to quick hot swap cards, which are then automatically reprogrammed, providing service recovery within half a second of the card being replaced. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have a history of trustworthy products, which lends us well to the LEO constellations where the ground segment needs to be ultra-reliable. Even if LEO satellites experience higher failure rates versus GEO, the ground segment can remain a dependable and steadfast element,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<h3>Upbeat on LEO\u2019s Future <\/h3>\n<p>Ground segment innovators remain upbeat on the future \u2013 with many agreeing that questions remain, including in areas of regulation, as well as the LEO operators making their specific business case.<\/p>\n<p>Even with that uncertainty, ground providers remain confident that both LEO and MEO constellations will become a reality soon and will significantly expand the satellite sector by offering plentiful bandwidth at lower latency than what\u2019s available today. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"flex flex-col justify-center items-center w-full image-block px-8\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Placeholder alt text\" class=\"w-full object-cover mx-auto\" src=\"http:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GYvVoG69QwWy5oQQ1IRg_Caption_-_Gilat_Satellite_Network_Headquarter_Offices.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"p-3 bg-gray-300 bg-opacity-50 italic mx-auto w-full\">Gilat Satellite Network headquarters in Petah Tikva, Israel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWe believe that the LEO market will start with premium applications and with terminal cost reduction eventually will become widespread \u2013 providing solutions for a large variety of applications,\u201d Gilat\u2019s Yafe predicts.<\/p>\n<p>What must the satellite industry get right in the next 6 to 12 months? Cobham\u2019s Nell says the true cost driver will center on the spacecraft, not the ground segment. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s all around the business model. Can you put together a business model where you need 300 or 3,000 satellites, launch them all, put in all the infrastructure you need, and still have a viable business case? It\u2019s going to be about driving costs out of the most expensive part of the system \u2013 the satellites.\u201d <\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6af66b3ff6c;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6af66b3ff6c = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6af66b3ff6d').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6af66b3ff6d'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Crossed Signals: LEO &amp; Antenna Interference <\/h3>\n<p>As the many LEO players\u2019 megaconstellations come closer to reality, one question continues to come up \u2014 How to control antenna interference between other satellites, not to mention radio astronomers who already are struggling to perform their Earth-observation activities as the Earth becomes ever \u201cnoisier\u201d? <\/p>\n<p>Established satellite players have long had to grapple with the question of signal interference, but the LEO networks promise much more complexity and potential for crossed signals. The antennas are smaller, but they also have higher side-lobe gain, increasing the likelihood of interference from their operational power requirements.  <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe do a very good job of focusing the energy into the main beam with very little energy going in other directions,\u201d notes Bill Milroy, chairman of ThinKom Solutions. \u201cNow the quality of the antenna patterns on the transmit and receive side is suddenly getting a lot more scrutiny from the regulatory agencies. What you used to be able to get away with has become a bigger challenge because you\u2019re worried about jamming your own satellites or you may be jamming a competitor\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to Milroy, antenna sidelobes and regulatory masks are getting renewed focus, particularly by regulatory groups, and now with terrestrial 5G users moving to the same frequency bands as satellite users, it\u2019s getting very \u201ccrowded\u201d out there.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a big issue across the board,\u201d he says. \u201cA lot of our competitors \u2013 particularly the electronically scanned competitors \u2013 are a little behind us in terms of development \u2026 I don\u2019t think they\u2019ve really addressed regulatory requirements yet.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>,<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"widget-title\">In This Issue<\/h2>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 406210:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IldETpqiQCqWQFCq0ktV_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-300x300.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IldETpqiQCqWQFCq0ktV_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IldETpqiQCqWQFCq0ktV_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-800x800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IldETpqiQCqWQFCq0ktV_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IldETpqiQCqWQFCq0ktV_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IldETpqiQCqWQFCq0ktV_Opinion_Bubbles_Web.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tGlobal FSS Satcom Operators Face Headwinds<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 406187:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"224\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/zKLZGQ4KQHmM6WQNQ0ZM_VS_020120_Leo_DGTL-300x224.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/zKLZGQ4KQHmM6WQNQ0ZM_VS_020120_Leo_DGTL-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/zKLZGQ4KQHmM6WQNQ0ZM_VS_020120_Leo_DGTL-800x598.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/zKLZGQ4KQHmM6WQNQ0ZM_VS_020120_Leo_DGTL-640x479.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/zKLZGQ4KQHmM6WQNQ0ZM_VS_020120_Leo_DGTL.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tHeading into the LEO Revolution<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 406207:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/OOR4eWTWQcWsV8eL8a0s_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-300x300.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/OOR4eWTWQcWsV8eL8a0s_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/OOR4eWTWQcWsV8eL8a0s_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-800x800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/OOR4eWTWQcWsV8eL8a0s_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/OOR4eWTWQcWsV8eL8a0s_Opinion_Bubbles_Web-640x640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/OOR4eWTWQcWsV8eL8a0s_Opinion_Bubbles_Web.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tIn Perfect Harmony:  A Look Ahead at  a \u201cSatcom Enterprise\u201d  for 2020 \u2013 and Beyond<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 406200:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/77J36yTjTDeAJbTMDDj8_VirginOrbit_Cosmic_Launcherone-300x200.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/77J36yTjTDeAJbTMDDj8_VirginOrbit_Cosmic_Launcherone-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/77J36yTjTDeAJbTMDDj8_VirginOrbit_Cosmic_Launcherone-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/77J36yTjTDeAJbTMDDj8_VirginOrbit_Cosmic_Launcherone-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/77J36yTjTDeAJbTMDDj8_VirginOrbit_Cosmic_Launcherone.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tLaunchers Get Ready for the Small Satellite Gold Rush<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 406203:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"225\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/wbZ9qWrtRpOqd4R4tzG0_VS_020120_Sat20_Preview_Opener-225x300.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/wbZ9qWrtRpOqd4R4tzG0_VS_020120_Sat20_Preview_Opener-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/wbZ9qWrtRpOqd4R4tzG0_VS_020120_Sat20_Preview_Opener-601x800.jpg 601w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/wbZ9qWrtRpOqd4R4tzG0_VS_020120_Sat20_Preview_Opener-1154x1536.jpg 1154w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/wbZ9qWrtRpOqd4R4tzG0_VS_020120_Sat20_Preview_Opener-640x852.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/wbZ9qWrtRpOqd4R4tzG0_VS_020120_Sat20_Preview_Opener.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tSATELLITE 2020: Conference Program Preview<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 406213:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"167\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gZx17grTB60078CUYAAk_EdNote_Header_Web-300x167.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gZx17grTB60078CUYAAk_EdNote_Header_Web-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gZx17grTB60078CUYAAk_EdNote_Header_Web-800x446.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gZx17grTB60078CUYAAk_EdNote_Header_Web-640x357.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gZx17grTB60078CUYAAk_EdNote_Header_Web.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tThe Revolution of the Roaring \u201820s:  The Satellite Industry Comes of Age<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2020 is set to be the year of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) as more providers build out their business cases and constellations for operating in LEO, a market that promises to deliver cost-effective, high-throughput connectivity and low latency to global users. According to Northern Sky Research (NSR), wholesale operator revenue from non-geostationary constellations is expected to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":60609,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-60607","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60607"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60607"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60607\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60609"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60607"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60607"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60607"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}