Low Earth orbit

Traditional television satellites orbit about 36,000 kilometres above Earth. A signal must travel up to the satellite and back down, which creates a noticeable delay on a call.

Low Earth orbit, usually called LEO, is much closer: a few hundred kilometres above the ground. The shorter trip reduces delay enough for more responsive internet and voice services. The trade-off is coverage. A LEO satellite moves across the sky quickly, so one satellite cannot stay above Reedford all day.

A LEO network solves that problem with many satellites. As one moves out of view, the network hands the connection to another. The system is more complicated than a single high satellite, but it can provide a practical link for a building and, in some cases, for a phone.

That shared orbit does not make all satellite services equivalent. The next page compares the two products Reedford could use after a flood: a ground dish and a phone connecting directly to a satellite.