Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO)

On the ground, this means 2 to 3 antennas must be provided for tracking and satellite changeover. However, due to the reduced gain requirement these antennas are smaller than GEO satellite antennas – typically having a maximum diameter of 2.4m and using both Ka- and Ku-bands.

With low cost, ease of maintainability, small form factor and extended bandwidth all expected requirements for LEO ground segment equipment, ETL has a range of products designed to fit these needs, depending on the antenna hub requirements. ETL’s latest introduction, the Genus chassis, is a compact common chassis with a range of functions, broad frequency ranges and a scalable design to fit into small and large teleports.

LEO applications broadly fit into two categories:

Broadband internet access direct to end users/consumers

For latency critical applications e.g. Financial transactions, autonomous cars, remote video surgery etc LEO’s will be the first choice as the round-trip latency of a LEO satellite is roughly 10 times lower than a GEO satellite.

Enterprise and Government
As some planes in some LEO constellations are being laser linked this gives the possibly of a highly secure link independent of the internet. Ideal for private enterprise and government communications.

Networks like SES’s O3b and O3b mPOWER demonstrate MEO’s distinct advantages: lower latency than GEO, greater spectral efficiency, and reduced constellation complexity compared to LEO. This balance makes MEO well-suited to data-intensive, mission-critical applications where performance and reliability are non-negotiable. 

MEO connectivity supports a diverse range of demanding use cases: 

• Maritime and aviation connectivity 

• Government and defence communications 

• Remote enterprise networking and backhaul 

• Cruise-ship broadband and in-flight connectivity (IFC) 

• Offshore platforms and tactical operations 

• Large-scale enterprise networks requiring consistent global coverage 

Teleports for MEO networks must support high-power Ka-band and wideband frequencies, deliver precision tracking for moving satellites, and enable seamless handover as spacecraft traverse the sky. Signal integrity, redundancy, and operational resilience are critical throughout the RF chain. 

ETL’s RF distribution, frequency conversion, and amplification technologies are engineered to meet these requirements – supporting reliable performance across the evolving MEO landscape.

HEO systems are strategically important for Arctic communications, government and defence operations, and resilient connectivity in polar environments where traditional architectures fall short. 

HEO constellations support mission-critical services across a range of demanding scenarios: 

• Secure military communications 

• Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) 

• Emergency response and disaster recovery 

• Remote enterprise networking 

• Broadband services for high-latitude communities 

Ground segment infrastructure for HEO needs to manage wide dynamic range in signal conditions, accommodate frequent frequency shifts driven by continuously changing orbital geometry, and deliver robust tracking as satellites move rapidly near perigee. 

Reliability depends on agile RF equipment, high-stability frequency conversion, resilient switching architectures, and amplification capable of maintaining link quality throughout the orbit cycle. 

ETL’s RF matrices, frequency converters, amplifiers, and RF over Fibre solutions are engineered to address these challenges – ensuring dependable performance for mission-critical HEO communications.