Satellite constellation: definition, operation and uses
We are all familiar with star constellations such as the Big Dipper or Orion. But did you know that the term “constellation” also applies to the space sector? With the rise of New Space, new missions have emerged, ranging from telecommunications and Earth observation to IoT connectivity. To address these challenges, satellite constellations are now being deployed in orbit.
They make it possible to deliver continuous telecommunications services over wide areas, sometimes difficult or impossible to reach using terrestrial networks. These systems now play a key role in global connectivity, as nearly 85% of the Earth’s surface remains beyond the reach of traditional terrestrial infrastructures (LPWAN, 4G, 5G…).
In this article, discover what a satellite constellation is, how it works, its advantages, and the use cases it enables today.
What is a satellite constellation?
A satellite constellation refers to a group of coordinated satellites deployed across one or more orbits and designed to perform identical missions and functions throughout their operational lifetime. Unlike a single satellite, a constellation improves service availability and extends geographical coverage, depending on the chosen architecture.
By increasing the number of satellites in orbit, the constellation also enhances overall system performance, notably by reducing revisit time. The presence of multiple satellites increases the frequency of communications or measurements carried out on the Earth’s surface.
Satellites are strategically positioned and operate in a coordinated manner. Depending on the constellation architecture, they may be distributed across several orbital planes or organized in clusters. This configuration ensures regular coverage and efficient data transmission, sometimes within just a few minutes.
Some telecommunications constellations, such as Kinéis, are designed to provide a high revisit capacity.
In this specific case, satellites pass over the same point on the globe several dozen times per day, ensuring service continuity and strong resilience, independently of terrestrial networks.
Types of orbits
Satellite constellations can be deployed across different types of orbits, each designed to meet specific operational needs.
Located between 160 and 2,000 km in altitude, Low Earth Orbit offers low latency and dynamic coverage. It also includes VLEO (Very Low Earth Orbit), which corresponds to altitudes between 100 and 450 km. The Kinéis constellation operates in Low Earth Orbit at an altitude of 650 km. Satellites travel at approximately 28,000 km/h and complete an orbit around the Earth in about 100 minutes. Key advantages: low latency, improved energy efficiency, stronger signal Typical use cases: IoT data collection, telecommunications, Earth observation
Located between 2,000 and 20,000 km in altitude, Medium Earth Orbit offers a good balance between coverage and performance. It is mainly used for navigation and positioning systems. Typical use cases: navigation and positioning systems (GPS, Galileo)
At 35,786 km above the equator, GEO satellites remain fixed relative to the Earth. A single satellite can cover approximately one third of the globe. Advantages: very wide coverage, maximum service continuity Drawback: high latency Typical use cases: TV and radio broadcasting, meteorology, institutional communications |
How does a telecommunications satellite constellation work?
The operation of a telecommunications satellite constellation relies on the interoperability and coordination of all satellites in orbit. They are designed to operate in a complementary manner, based on a defined architecture (orbital planes, clusters, redundancy), to ensure service continuity, geographical coverage and communication availability.
The constellation also relies on a ground segment responsible for satellite control, orbit management and optimization of overall system performance.
Depending on the type of constellation (broadband Internet, telecommunications, IoT connectivity), this architecture is complemented by service platforms that distribute data to end users.
Kinéis system overview
The Kinéis system illustrates how a satellite constellation dedicated to the Internet of Things operates. It relies on an end-to-end ecosystem integrating satellites, ground stations and service platforms, enabling the collection and transmission of small data volumes from connected objects deployed across the globe.
- A satellite passes over an IoT device.
- Data is collected by the satellite.
- Data is transmitted to the nearest ground station (antenna).
- Data is processed and centralized by the ground segment.
- Data is made available to the end user via the service center and visualization platform.
This complete chain enables reliable, secure, and global IoT connectivity.
Why use a satellite constellation?
Satellite constellations offer many advantages over traditional terrestrial networks and isolated satellites:
- Wide coverage, ranging from regional to near-global depending on the constellation architecture, including remote or underserved areas. In the case of Kinéis, the constellation architecture enables global coverage.
- Service continuity, ensured through coordinated satellite operations and frequent revisit.
- Increased resilience: if one satellite fails, another can take over to maintain service continuity.
- Low latency, especially for Low Earth Orbit constellations.
These characteristics make satellite constellations particularly well suited for many critical applications.
Satellite constellations and IoT: what use cases?
Satellite constellations play a key role in the development of the Internet of Things (IoT) by enabling connectivity for devices located beyond the reach of terrestrial networks.
Key use cases include:
- Fleet and asset tracking
- Environmental monitoring
- Infrastructure management
- International logistics and transportation
In this context, IoT-dedicated satellite constellations provide reliable, energy-efficient connectivity tailored to low-data-rate communications.
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Examples of satellite constellations
Several constellations are currently operational or under deployment. These systems are not designed for the same purposes; they are complementary, each optimized for a specific service type and operational need.
- Starlink: a constellation dedicated to broadband Internet, designed for data-intensive use cases. It involves higher costs, justified by the data rates delivered and service continuity.
- OneWeb: a global telecommunications constellation focused on professional and institutional services, with pricing aligned with high availability and reliability requirements.
- Kinéis: a constellation dedicated to IoT and AIS, specialized in transmitting very small messages of just a few bytes, enabling a cost-effective approach suitable for large-scale sensor deployments.
- IRIS²: a future European secure connectivity constellation led by the European Union. It primarily targets institutional and governmental use cases (security, communication resilience, digital sovereignty), while gradually integrating commercial services. IRIS² will rely on a multi-orbit architecture to ensure high availability and secure communications.
Each constellation addresses specific needs in terms of coverage, data rate and use cases, with economic models aligned with the volume of data exchanged.
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