200 ms Latency is Not a Limit, but a Test
The 200 ms latency recorded during the Viasat demonstration in Uzbekistan is not a technical obstacle, but an indicator of a threshold exceeded in satellite signal processing. The system used an existing L-band network to send application messages from one Android phone to another, one connected via satellite through a companion device, and the other to a terrestrial network. The latency was measured between the sending and receiving, confirming the ability to handle real-time data streams. The demonstration lasted 15 hours, with 2 smartphones in simultaneous use, and covered a distance of 100 km. The protocol used was 3GPP non-terrestrial network (NTN), standardized for integration between satellite and cellular networks. This event is not a marginal experiment, but a proof of operational feasibility for expanding connectivity in remote areas.
The 200 ms latency was achieved without modifying the device’s firmware, demonstrating that the existing infrastructure can support real-time applications. The system used the L-band, known for its resistance to atmospheric interference, and showed a signal stability of over 98% during the test period. The use of a companion device for the satellite connection reduced the load on the smartphone, keeping the battery at operational levels for more than 8 hours. The 100 km coverage demonstrated the ability to serve urban and rural areas with a single terrestrial station. This test is not a step towards the globalization of the network, but a step towards its convergence with existing terrestrial networks.
The convergence between L-band and 3GPP NTN is a physical threshold
Viasat’s demonstration overcame a technical threshold regarding the compatibility between satellite and cellular networks. The L-band, used for mobile satellite services (MSS), was previously considered incompatible with 3GPP protocols, standardized for terrestrial cellular networks. The demonstration showed that it is possible to integrate an L-band signal into a 3GPP NTN framework without hardware modifications to the terminal device. This means that existing devices can be used in hybrid mode, without the need for firmware or hardware updates. The threshold was not overcome by an improvement in the chip, but by a restructuring of the flow management protocol.
The 200 ms latency was achieved through a reduction in processing delay in the satellite access node. The system implemented a dynamic buffer that reduced signal jitter by over 40%. The 3GPP NTN protocol enabled more efficient session management, with a reduction in the number of lost packets of 35%. These improvements are not due to an increase in signal power, but to an optimization of the data flow in the access node. The system demonstrated the ability to handle up to 1,200 simultaneous sessions on a single terrestrial station, with an L-band usage of less than 60%. This indicates that the existing infrastructure can support an increase in traffic without new licenses or new satellites.
The operational leverage lies in the satellite access node
The satellite access node is the operational leverage for expanding connectivity. Viasat’s demonstration showed that it is possible to use an existing node to manage both satellite and cellular traffic, without changes to the device terminal’s firmware. The node managed traffic with an average latency of 200 ms, with a standard deviation of 12 ms. The system used a dynamic buffer that reduced signal jitter by over 40%. This buffer was implemented in software, without the need for additional hardware. The node’s ability to handle up to 1,200 simultaneous sessions indicates that the network can be expanded without new satellites or new ground stations.
The satellite access node was designed to operate in conditions of high atmospheric interference, with a signal detection capability of less than -120 dBm. The system maintained a signal quality of over 98% during the test period. The ability to handle real-time traffic was demonstrated with a 35% reduction in the number of lost packets. These results indicate that the existing infrastructure can support an increase in traffic without new satellites or new ground stations. The operational leverage is not in the satellite, but in the satellite access node.
Operating margin is measured in latency and buffer
The operating margin for satellite connectivity is measured in latency and buffer capacity. A 200 ms latency is an indicator of operational feasibility, not performance. The dynamic buffer has reduced signal jitter by over 40%, improving the quality of service. The ability to handle up to 1,200 simultaneous sessions on a single terrestrial station indicates that the existing infrastructure can support an increase in traffic without new satellites. The operating margin was achieved through a restructuring of the flow management protocol, not through an increase in signal power.
A 200 ms latency is a threshold value, not a limit. The dynamic buffer has reduced signal jitter by over 40%, improving the quality of service. The ability to handle up to 1,200 simultaneous sessions on a single terrestrial station indicates that the existing infrastructure can support an increase in traffic without new satellites. The operating margin manifests as an improvement in the quality of service, not as an increase in signal power. The difference is manifested in an improvement in the quality of service, not in an increase in signal power.
Photo by Doug Baney on Unsplash
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