Satellite internet networks make different trade-offs at different altitudes

The altitude of a satellite helps determine what it can see and how it communicates with the ground. That makes orbit selection a central design choice for networks intended to provide connectivity over large areas.

A geostationary satellite follows Earth's rotation and appears to remain above the same place on the equator. From its high position it can cover a broad region, and a ground antenna can point in a fixed direction. Signals, however, must travel a long distance.

Satellites in low Earth orbit are much closer and move across the sky relative to a user. A continuous service therefore needs a coordinated system of spacecraft and connections that transfer between them. The shorter path can reduce one component of delay, while network routing and ground infrastructure still affect the final experience.

Neither altitude makes every other engineering question disappear. Capacity, coverage, terminals and traffic management all influence service. The useful comparison is between complete networks and the places they are intended to serve. Orbit explains part of the design, but the connection experienced by a household or business depends on the rest of the system as well.