Satellite Internet

• 19 Aug 2025

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

Starlink has received a Unified Licence to provide satellite internet services in India. 

How Does Satellite Internet Work? 

• About: Satellite internet uses orbiting satellites or mega-constellations- hundreds to thousands of satellites at varying altitudes to transmit data between user terminals on Earth and space-based infrastructure. 
• Working Mechanism: Satellite internet operates through a two-segment system: the space segment and the ground segment. 
  • Space Segment:  It comprises satellites in different orbits equipped with communication payloads for data transmission.  
    • Satellites receive data signals from user terminals or ground stations, process or relay them, and transmit them back to Earth. 
    • LEO mega-constellations incorporate on-board signal processing and optical inter-satellite links, allowing direct satellite-to-satellite communication and reducing reliance on ground stations. 
  • Ground Segment: It consists of user terminals (antennas, modems) and ground stations that communicate with the satellites. 
    • Terminals send requests to satellites, which route the data through the constellation or ground infrastructure to reach the internet backbone. 
• Orbital Deployment: Satellites are deployed in 3 main orbits: 
  • Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO): Lies around 35,786 km above the equator. A single GEO satellite covers nearly one-third of Earth’s surface.  
    • It has broad coverage, but high latency, so unsuitable for real-time applications. Example: Viasat Global Xpress. 
  • Medium Earth Orbit (MEO): Lies at 2,000–35,786 km altitude. It has lower latency than GEO but requires constellations for global coverage. Example: O3b MEO. 
  • Low Earth Orbit (LEO): Lies at less than 2,000 km altitude. Very low latency, smaller satellites, and rapid deployment, but smaller coverage per satellite. 
    • LEO satellites form “mega-constellations” for global reach. Example: Starlink with over 7,000 satellites. 

What are the Key Potential Applications of Satellite Internet? 

• Connectivity & Communications: Provides internet in remote areas via compact user terminals. 
  • Future direct-to-smartphone services aim to integrate connectivity into smart devices, enabling the Internet of Everything (IoE). 
• Transport, Logistics & Public Services: Enhances navigation, supports autonomous vehicles, improves logistics, powers smart cities, provides early warning systems, and enables coordinated disaster response. 
• Healthcare & Agriculture: Facilitates telemedicine and remote patient monitoring, and supports precision farming, crop health monitoring, and optimized resource use. 
• Strategic, Industrial & Environmental Uses: Aids defence operations, environmental monitoring, energy exploration, and tourism, while its dual-use nature requires integration into national resilience plans, bridging the digital divide, and shaping international governance for strategic advantage. 
• Disaster Response & Emergency Communication: It allows rapid deployment of connectivity in disaster-affected regions, supporting emergency management. 
  • During Hurricane Harvey (2017), satellite internet enabled rescue operations when terrestrial networks failed.  

Note:  

• Starlink: A satellite internet constellation by SpaceX, providing high-speed, low-latency internet globally. 
• Commercial satellite internet services are not yet operational in India. 
  • Eutelsat OneWeb, Reliance Jio-SES, and Starlink have obtained necessary permits & government is finalizing spectrum allocation for its commercial rollout. 

Key Satellite Internet Projects: 

• Project Kuiper (Amazon): Plans to deploy over 3,200 advanced LEO satellites to provide affordable, high-speed broadband globally. 
• Starlink (SpaceX): Launched in 2019, aims for a 42,000-satellite LEO mega-constellation. 
• OneWeb (Eutelsat, France): Operates the world’s second-largest satellite constellation after Starlink. 
• Qianfan or G60 Starlink Constellation (China): Planned LEO mega-constellation by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) to provide global internet coverage. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ) 

Prelims:

Q. For the measurement/estimation of which of the following are satellite images/remote sensing data used? (2019)

1. Chlorophyll content in the vegetation of a specific location 
2. Greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies of a specific location 
3. Land surface temperatures of a specific location 

Select the correct answer using the code given below. 

(a) 1 only  

(b) 2 and 3 only 

(c) 3 only  

(d) 1, 2 and 3 

Ans: (d)

Q. With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: (2018)

1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.   
2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.   
3. GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors, and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.   

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?   

(a) 1 only   

(b) 2 and 3   

(c) 1 and 2   

(d) 3 only  

Ans: (a)

Q. With reference to Web 3-0, consider the following statements: (2022)

1. Web 3.0 technology enables people to control their own data. 
2. In Web 3.0 world, there can be blockchain based social networks. 
3. Web 3.0 is operated by users collectively rather than a corporation. 

Which of the statements given above are correct? 

(a) 1 and 2 only 

(b) 2 and 3 only 

(c) 1 and 3 only 

(d) 1, 2 and 3 

Ans: (d)

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Mains

Q.  Discuss India’s achievements in the field of Space Science and Technology. How the application of this technology helped India in its socio-economic development? (2016) 

Q. Has digital illiteracy, particularly in rural areas, coupled with lack of Information and Communication Technology(ICT) accessibility hindered socio-economic development? Examine with justification. (2021)