In a world where access to the internet increasingly defines opportunity, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology is emerging as a powerful equaliser—one that’s closing the digital divide and transforming how people and industries connect.

“LEO is fundamentally reshaping how we think about internet access,” says a senior spokesperson, Mark Jorgensen, Managing Director – RMSI Australia. “By operating satellites just a few hundred kilometres above Earth, LEO systems can deliver lower latency, faster speeds, and significantly broader coverage than traditional geostationary satellites.”

Unlike older satellite systems that orbit tens of thousands of kilometres above the planet, LEO networks offer a viable alternative to fixed-line and wireless broadband. The implications are massive—not just for improving access in underserved regions, but for transforming entire sectors such as aviation, maritime, agriculture, logistics, and autonomous transport.

From the Outback to the Ocean: Connectivity Without Limits

Having travelled extensively across Australia, Mark has seen firsthand how vast and remote many areas can be. Reliable connectivity in these regions has always been a challenge, but with LEO technology, that’s changing.

“Imagine sitting on the edge of Australia on the Nullarbor-Plain nearly 500kms to the closest town, with full broadband connectivity with > 250mg download capability, well that’s me in the caravan / RV in remote Australia.  It’s exciting to witness how even the most distant communities, farms, and outback locations are now gaining access to the digital world, opening up new opportunities for people, businesses, and industries across the country.”

This leap in accessibility is enabling new business models, unlocking productivity, and bringing critical services like education, healthcare, and e-commerce to areas that once had little or no connectivity.

The Players Driving the LEO Race

The LEO landscape is rapidly evolving, with several major players competing—and collaborating—to lead in this new frontier of connectivity:

• SpaceX Starlink is currently the frontrunner, with thousands of satellites already in orbit. Starlink focuses on delivering high-speed, low-latency internet to consumers and businesses, with a particular emphasis on rural and hard-to-reach areas.
• Amazon’s Project Kuiper is preparing for large-scale deployment, aiming to provide affordable broadband solutions, especially for underserved communities. Its integration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) positions it uniquely for enterprise cloud connectivity.
• OneWeb (now part of Eutelsat), targets enterprise, aviation, maritime, and government markets, offering strong polar and remote area coverage and leveraging public-private partnerships.
• Telesat Lightspeed geared toward premium enterprise and government customers, emphasising high-capacity, highly secure, and resilient network architecture.
• AST SpaceMobile is pioneering direct-to-smartphone satellite broadband, eliminating the need for specialised terminals and offering true mobile connectivity anywhere.
• Lynk Global focuses on essential connectivity, providing basic messaging and emergency communications directly to standard mobile phones through a lean satellite network.

Each player brings a different advantage—whether it’s scale, integration, mobility, or enterprise-grade performance.

What’s Next for LEO?

The next frontier in LEO isn’t just more satellites—it’s smarter, more integrated networks. Upcoming innovations include:

• Direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity that allows everyday smartphones to connect directly to satellites without special hardware, with companies like AST SpaceMobile and Lynk Global leading this frontier.
• Hybrid network models LEO satellite connectivity seamlessly with terrestrial 5G, fibre, and Wi-Fi networks to create a global, high-performance broadband fabric.

Advances in satellite manufacturing, AI-driven network optimisation, and propulsion technologies are making new constellations smarter, more energy-efficient, and cheaper to deploy. Furthermore, LEO is set to play a major role in scaling global IoT ecosystems, supporting innovations in agriculture, environmental monitoring, logistics, and smart city infrastructure.

These advances will push LEO technology into the core of how we live, work, and interact with the world – on land, at sea, and in the sky.

Real-World Benefits That Matter

The practical benefits of LEO are far-reaching and game-changing:

• Global coverage, that extends internet access to remote regions, rural communities, oceans, airways, and remote or polar areas that fibre or terrestrial towers struggle to reach.
• Ultra-low latency, which supports real-time applications such as online gaming, autonomous vehicle operations, telemedicine, and AR/VR experiences.
• Disaster resilience, offering emergency connectivity when traditional infrastructure is compromised during natural disasters or conflict situations.
• Economic empowerment, creating opportunities for businesses, entrepreneurs, and entire communities by connecting them to the digital economy.
• Enterprise transformation, enabling industries like energy, logistics, and agriculture to become smarter, safer, and more efficient through reliable, high-speed broadband.

The Challenges Ahead

LEO is not without its challenges. One major hurdle is high costs and business viability. Building and maintaining massive constellations isn’t cheap, and the satellites themselves have short operational lifespans and will need replacing. Ground infrastructure and user equipment costs, like satellite dishes, remain relatively high, particularly for consumers in developing markets. Another concern is space and environmental risks. The growing number of satellites is increasing the risk of collisions and space debris, with potential knock-on effects for the entire orbital environment. There’s also scrutiny around the environmental impact of frequent rocket launches and the visual pollution that satellite reflections cause for astronomers.

Coverage and capacity limitations present another challenge. While LEO networks aim for blanket global coverage, service gaps can occur, particularly in early deployment stages. Urban areas, where user demand is high, could also strain available bandwidth.

Service reliability isn’t perfect either. Weather conditions such as heavy rain, snow, or dense cloud cover can degrade signal quality, though it’s still a major improvement over older satellite systems or no/intermittent connectivity.

Finally, regulatory and spectrum challenges persist. Managing spectrum rights, coordinating with terrestrial operators, and ensuring responsible satellite disposal all require stronger regulatory frameworks, both nationally and internationally.

A Future Being Built Today

Despite these challenges, the momentum behind LEO technology is undeniable. Companies, governments, and innovators around the world are heavily investing in smarter satellite design, sustainable launch systems, collision-avoidance strategies, and more affordable customer solutions.

“At RMSI, we’re proud to be part of this transformation,” Mark adds. we’re proud to support the deployment of LEO technology through the engineering and design of ground infrastructure and base stations that make global connectivity possible. From delivering broadband to the world’s most remote regions to enabling the next generation of digital experiences, LEO is reshaping what’s possible.

And this is just the beginning.