The Challenges Of Mobile Broadband

Challenges of Mobile Broadband

Supporting continuous broadband satellite connectivity to mobile devices is challenging. While mobile satellite services at lower satellite frequencies (L-band in particular) have been available for some time, these services tend to provide lower rates of speed (less than 400 kbps) and tend to be very expensive as they are charged on a usage basis. Satellite broadband using higher frequency services, such as Ku-band, can provide more bandwidth at a lower cost. But the very nature of these higher frequency services presents a significant challenge for the mobile terminal.

Some of the challenges are outlined below.

Changing Transmission Path

As mobile broadband terminals travel, they will move through various contours of the satellite footprint, causing the path to the satellite to change. The challenge is for the satellite broadband system to dynamically adapt to changing link conditions in order to maintain availability while not wasting satellite capacity.

Download this white paper below to discover more challenges and learn more.