Low-Earth-Orbit satellites and enterprise connectivity: lower latency and greater resilience

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations are expanding the value proposition of satellite connectivity. Satellite connectivity, which has primarily been a technology aimed at providing internet access in areas with poor terrestrial coverage, is now finding new applications in enterprise networks thanks to reduced latency and improved data transmission speeds.

This evolution, though still limited in terms of market share, opens up the possibility of incorporating satellite as another connection option in enterprise networks, alongside fiber optics and mobile networks. In this scenario, while satellite operators provide connectivity, SD-WAN-based network architecture solutions manage traffic between the various access points.

Spain has gone from having just over 10,000 satellite internet connections at the end of 2022 to nearly 100,000 by the end of 2025. This is according to the Report on Satellite Electronic Communications Services (INF/DTSA/244/25), approved by the CNMC on September 17, 2026.

Although satellite connections account for approximately 0.5% of the Spanish fixed broadband market, this increase points to significant growth in the sector. Satellite technology is gaining prominence as a complementary alternative for businesses, both for connecting remote locations and for providing backup links in the event of incidents affecting terrestrial networks.

Its use extends to areas such as maritime and aeronautical communications, business services, the Internet of Things, and emergency communications.

Since the 1960s, geostationary satellites have played a fundamental role in telecommunications. Located about 35,786 kilometers from Earth, they provide coverage over vast geographic areas, but their distance results in high latency—that is, longer response times in communications.

The commercial expansion of LEO constellations has changed this landscape. In Spain, one of the major milestones was the launch of Starlink’s commercial service in 2022, following its introduction in other European countries. The development of these large constellations has driven the commercial availability of services and the growth of satellite internet access.

LEO satellites operate at considerably lower altitudes, typically several hundred kilometers. Their proximity reduces latency and improves performance for applications that require frequent data exchanges. Thanks to these improvements, business applications such as access to cloud services, communications between offices, and videoconferencing can benefit from connections with shorter response times.

Starlink is the satellite connectivity service offered by SpaceX, the U.S. company founded by Elon Musk in 2002. SpaceX develops and operates one of the world’s largest constellations of low-Earth orbit satellites. Its commercial expansion has contributed to the growth of satellite connectivity in Spain and to the adoption of this technology in new business settings.

Starlink provides the infrastructure and satellite connectivity service. Companies can integrate this access into their corporate networks and manage it alongside other connections using specialized technology solutions.

According to the CNMC, the development of new LEO constellations will promote greater integration of satellites with 5G mobile networks and, in the future, 6G and 7G networks. It will also drive new applications of the Internet of Things (IoT), facilitating the connection of sensors and devices located in areas not covered by terrestrial networks.

Another trend is the direct connection between satellites and cell phones, a technology that is already beginning to be used commercially in various countries. In Spain, it was activated for the first time—on an exceptional basis—during the wildfires that affected areas of Madrid, Ávila, and Toledo in July 2026. The service made it possible to maintain basic communications when terrestrial infrastructure was damaged. Its development opens up new possibilities for expanding mobile coverage and strengthening communications in emergency situations.

According to the CNMC report, satellite connectivity will play a complementary role to that of terrestrial networks. In the business sector, this means that fiber optics will continue to be a fundamental infrastructure, while satellite links will provide new connectivity options.

Greater support for business continuity. A satellite connection can serve as a backup when the primary access link fails. This option is particularly valuable for businesses and public services that need to maintain communications with corporate systems, management platforms, or cloud services.

Greater resilience. Combining different access technologies provides alternatives in the event of terrestrial network failures.

Coverage in challenging locations. Satellite technology facilitates connectivity at facilities where fiber or mobile networks are limited, such as farms, isolated logistics centers, or industrial sites.

Flexibility. Certain satellite solutions allow for the deployment of connectivity at temporary facilities, seasonal operations, or locations that require communications during specific periods.

Despite these advantages, implementing satellite connectivity requires evaluating factors such as the cost of the service, installation requirements, and available features—especially when it is used for mission-critical business applications. To take full advantage of these benefits, it is essential to properly integrate satellite links into the company’s communications architecture.

The introduction of satellite connectivity also raises issues of digital sovereignty, especially in a market where Starlink holds a prominent position. For businesses, diversifying access technologies and maintaining control over the management of their communications helps reduce technological dependencies.

In this context, SD-WAN architectures facilitate centralized management of various links, under network policies defined by the company itself, even when using services from multiple providers.

Today’s enterprise networks can combine fiber optics, 4G and 5G mobile connections, and when business needs warrant it, satellite links. This diversity poses a challenge: managing different connections in a coordinated manner, enforcing security policies, and ensuring that business applications have the communication resources they need.

This is where SD-WAN technology comes into play, allowing organizations to manage multiple links from a centralized platform and establish routing policies and traffic priorities based on the characteristics of each connection. For example, a company can use fiber as its primary access and maintain a satellite connection for contingency situations. If the primary link experiences an outage or significant degradation, a properly configured SD-WAN solution can redirect specific traffic flows to the alternative connection.

Intelligent traffic management also allows for prioritizing the most critical applications, taking into account factors such as latency, available capacity, and connection quality. The value of satellite connectivity increases when it is part of a comprehensive enterprise communications strategy.

In this area, SAIWALL Secure SD-WAN from SAIMA SYSTEMS offers centralized management capabilities, link redundancy, application prioritization, and security policy enforcement. These features are relevant for architectures that combine different access technologies.