A L A SK A N AT I V E SPEC I A L SEC T I O N
Satellites Beyond the Northern Lights Enhancing connectivity and quality of life in rural Alaska By Tracy Barbour
52 | September 2021
Alaska Business www.akbizmag.com
OneWeb Technology
I
nternet access in rural Alaska can be notoriously expensive, slow, and sometimes unreliable, making the prospect of low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite from OneWeb Technology, SpaceX's Starlink, and Amazon’s Kuiper all the more intriguing for people living in remote villages and cities. These impending services, along with next-generation geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO) satellites, promise to dramatically improve internet connectivity and costs—as well as the quality of life for rural Alaskans. But all of this remains to be seen as Alaska’s telecommunications companies and other stakeholders entertain the potential impact that LEO satellite service can have on rural connectivity. Regardless of the implications, industry experts maintain that the state needs LEO/ GEO satellite-enabled broadband, combined with other technologies, to best meet the internet demands of all Alaskans. Some Alaska telecoms are collaborating to support these efforts; others are waiting and watching with guarded optimism. LEO satellites represent a promising technological solution for broadband internet, which is by FCC standards at least 25 megabits per second (Mbps) for download and 3 Mbps for upload speeds. LEO satellites generally orbit less than 1,400 kilometers above the earth—much closer than GEO satellites, which typically operate at an altitude of 36,000 kilometers. Because LEOs circle the earth at lower altitudes, they can integrate with on-ground data networks to deliver internet service with less latency than their GEO counterparts. However, latency—the time it takes data to travel from the consumer to an internet exchange and back to the consumer—can be impeded by trees, poles, chimneys, and other objects.
