Global satellite operators generally support a multi-satellite approach. Companies across the industry are integrating new capabilities in low Earth orbit (LEO) with existing fleets of medium satellites (MEO) and geostationary orbit (GEO). At the same time, the chief executive officer of the telecommunications software company Contrivian Grant Kirkwood claims, that such architectures create performance problems, which have their roots in basic physics.
According to Contrivian specialists, founded in 2023 year, a combination of satellites, which work at very different heights, creates technical complications, which impair the performance of modern Internet applications. The company believes, that future military communications networks must rely primarily on a few LEO constellations, that work together. The company recently launched a platform called Contrivian Constellation, which dynamically routes traffic between different LEO providers, including Starlink and Amazon, within a single service. The system is currently being tested with US Special Operations Forces, whose missions often depend on maintaining communications in hostile environments.
Thanks to the signal delay, everything is close 40 milliseconds, operation through LEO satellite systems is almost no different from terrestrial Internet. Users actually do not experience any delays when exchanging data. GEO systems can exceed 600 milliseconds, because the signals have to travel a much longer distance. This difference becomes significant, when applications suddenly switch between orbital layers during so-called "failovers", when traffic is automatically rerouted after a degradation or interruption. The issue affects the TCP/IP network framework, which underlies the majority of Internet traffic. Appendices, optimized for low latency, can behave unpredictably, when delays increase dramatically. Video calls hang, cloud apps slow down, and some network sessions restart completely.
For reference: TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) is a basic network set of rules and protocols, which is used to connect devices in computer networks, including
with the Internet. He defines, how the data is packaged, are addressed, are transmitted, are routed
and are obtained.
Contrivian's argument is that, that the combination of several LEO systems avoids these failures, as they all operate in roughly similar latency ranges. The company claims, that the network, which switches between Starlink, Amazon Leo or future LEO constellations, can maintain stable performance and, without forcing applications, adapt to radically different network conditions.
The company's software relies on distributed monitoring points on the ground, which continuously measure latency and network behavior on all available channels. The system creates a real-time map of network conditions and routes traffic accordingly. For military customers, Contrivian has created the technology, which fits into a protected case, slightly larger than a carry-on suitcase. Inside are terminals for several constellations, batteries, routers and computer, which runs the company's orchestration software.
As of today, there are not enough mature LEO alternatives in many regions, for dynamic multi-constellation networking to realize its full potential. This may change, when Amazon expands its constellation, and Telesat will prepare the launch of the Lightspeed service in 2027 year. Grant Kirkwood believes, that as more constellations emerge, value in satellite communication will shift from individual operators to software platforms, able to manage traffic between many networks behind the scenes. The Pentagon's growing use of commercial broadband adds urgency to the argument. Military officials are increasingly concerned about the risk of concentration around Starlink, even as the service is deeply integrated into defense operations.
Meanwhile, GEO satellites will remain valuable for applications, which require extensive permanent coverage, and their stationary position means, that they avoid constant switching, inherent in LEO networks. Military users, as expected, will continue to rely on GEO systems for communications and broadcasts.
Source: https://spacenews.com