Insights into Low Earth Orbit Satellite Communication Dynamics: Quality of Service Analysis of Connection Behavior, Latency, and Doppler Shift

We delved into the behavior and efficacy of Low Earth Orbit (LEO, Starlink) satellite communication networks. Through the establishment of seven ground stations (e.g. Glasgow, New York, Taipei, Sydney, and others), a comprehensive analysis of key factors including connection duration, number of connections, latency, and Doppler shift was undertaken based on artificial intelligence and mathematic statistics methods. The results showed the findings as follows. From a long-term memory point of view, both connection duration and number of connections exhibit prolonged dependence, even within regions characterized by low coverage. The majority of 5423 satellites showed manifest latency within the range of 2–9 ms, with occasional spikes reaching a maximum of 12 ms. The discernible effect of the Doppler shift significantly influenced communication dynamics owing to the dynamic positional variations of satellites. The Doppler rate parameter, contingent upon satellite trajectories, showed variability and necessitates meticulous consideration to ensure the reliability of communication systems. Such results serve as invaluable reference points for the advancement of future LEO satellite communication frameworks, underscoring the imperative of Doppler shift mitigation to engender stable and secure operational paradigms.

I. Introduction

We depend on a sophisticated web of communication satellites orbiting Earth, each meticulously placed for a specific function in the global information exchange. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) systems, operating at altitudes between 200 and 2,000 km, leverage their proximity to Earth to deliver high-bandwidth internet access to geographically isolated or infrastructure-deficient regions. These constellations capitalize on the shorter signal travel distances between the satellite and user terminals, resulting in minimal signal delay and enabling high-speed data transmission.