Beam Coverage Comparison of LEO Satellite Systems Based on User Diversification

Abstract

To achieve global network coverage and the need for high-speed communication, the idea of providing Internet access from space has made a strong comeback in recent years. The low earth orbit (LEO) communication satellite constellation is once again on the stage of the world with its unique features and new technology. In order to provide faster and more affordable communication resources, low-orbit satellites need be customized to design satellites. The beam coverage design is essential to the user-customized design. This paper combines the user traffic demand model and the low-orbit satellite beam coverage model to analyze the impact of beam coverage characteristics on the performance of low-orbit satellite systems. The user traffic model bases on the user simulative distribution (uniform, normal) and the user geographic distribution (according to the AIS and ADS-B historical data acquired by STU-2B and STU-2C which are the LEO satellites launched in Sep, 2015, Jiuquan, China). The beam coverage model compares the OneWeb system to the SpaceX system. The beam coverage model takes the variability in performance induced by atmospheric conditions for the user links into account. Follow that this paper proposes a system method to simulate the two satellite system which described by the throughput, delay, access probability. Finally, the sensitivity of beam coverage to user diversification is summarized and discussed.

Keywords

• LEO
• communication satellite
• comparison
• beam
• throughput
• user distribution