Low Earth Orbit is roughly 160km to 2,000km (99 to 1,200 miles) above the Earth's surface.
This makes it about 50x closer than Geostationary satellites, which orbit at 35,786km (22,236 miles).
The closer proximity means signals can travel faster with less delay, improving real-time communication like video calls, gaming, and remote operations.
LEO satellites move extremely fast, completing a full orbit around Earth in about 90 to 120 minutes. Because they cover a smaller area per satellite, networks like Starlink use thousands of satellites working together to provide seamless global coverage. These satellites constantly hand off signals to each other as they orbit, creating a mesh network in the sky.
Explore how Low Earth Orbit satellite networks like Starlink are redefining global connectivity.