How updating outdated satellite regulations can expand coverage and capacity for better broadband
Connecting everyone on Earth to high-speed internet is one of the greatest opportunities of our time. At Amazon Leo, we're working to help bridge the digital divide by building a constellation of thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit, but delivering on this vision requires more than just innovative technology – it requires modernizing regulations written during the dial-up era.
Why it matters for your connection
Satellite communications require unprecedented international cooperation to make efficient use of a scarce shared resource: radio frequency spectrum. Our electronic communications across airwaves and borders are all coordinated through a network of national and global regulators. Organizations like the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) play a critical role in developing technical regulations to ensure these intricate communication systems work together seamlessly for customers.
Geosynchronous (GSO) satellites, which operate more than 35,000km above the Earth, have long supported a range of important applications – everything from TV broadcasts to emergency voice calls – especially in areas with limited or no connectivity. Yet the United Nations estimates that 2.6 billion people worldwide still lack broadband access. A new generation of satellite communications has launched to complement and bring online additional capacity to these GSO systems. These Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) satellites, including Amazon Leo, operate closer to the Earth and are able to provide low latency, high speed internet. In fact, Amazon Leo recently proved its capability to offer speeds of >1Gbps in testing.
The decades-old framework to prevent interference between satellite systems is overly restrictive and does not reflect technological advancements, thereby inadvertently limiting modern connectivity solutions that could help close this gap.
Outdated Rules, Real Consequences
Equivalent Power Flux-Density (EPFD) regulations govern spectrum sharing between higher and lower altitude satellites. Established in the late 1990s for a theoretical NGSO system that never launched, these rules are based on outdated technological assumptions – creating limits in parts of the Ka-band that are hundreds of times more restrictive than necessary. Modern satellite networks now employ advanced features like adaptive coding and beam steering that didn't exist when these regulations were drafted.
These regulations force not just Amazon Leo but all NGSO operators to operate far below their potential. This means that operators must implement unnecessary "avoidance zones", switching off satellites in key areas that waste valuable coverage and underutilize network capacity, and ultimately increase costs for consumers, businesses, governments and more. In this regard, EPFD reform could be helpful for smaller constellations, allowing the same coverage with significantly fewer satellites.
The Case for Smart Modernization
Economic analysis points to a clear opportunity: updated regulations could generate up to $100 billion in new economic activity, underpinned by increased broadband capacity of 180%--all while protecting existing satellite services. For customers, this means faster and more reliable satellite internet, and increased flexibility for NGSO satellite operators to provide the same quality of service with fewer satellites.
Through improved efficiency, Amazon Leo could offer broadband service to more customers while enhancing reliability for critical communications. Updated regulations would also encourage greater competition in the satellite broadband market, driving innovation, choice, and affordability for everyone. It could help connect millions of people who still lack high-speed internet access, especially in areas where traditional infrastructure is impractical or prohibitively expensive.
The case for modernization has clear benefits for customers while continuing to protect all satellite operators. Modern satellite networks have proven their critical importance – from providing connectivity during natural disasters to connecting rural populations globally.
Building Global Support for Change
International regulatory forums are at the center of the global debate. We're working with governments, regulators, and industry partners worldwide to support evidence-based technical studies in order to ensure progress on modernizing EPFD regulations continues.
We're committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure satellite regulations keep pace with technology while maintaining appropriate protections. This is bigger than Amazon Leo. It's about unleashing the full potential of satellite broadband to connect more communities worldwide. Every new day under outdated regulations means missed opportunities to connect more people, create economic opportunities, and strengthen communications resilience.