Avionic Satellite Communication Terminal Requirements and Technology Maturity Analysis

Due to the increased demand for global connectivity, there has been a growing interest in the development and use of nonterrestrial networks for applications (such as aeronautics), where terrestrial networks are not available or do not deliver satisfying performance. The use of newly deployed constellations in nongeostationary satellite orbits (NGSO) is getting much attention as it could potentially enable new performance levels in these applications, bridging the gaps of geostationary satellite orbit systems. However, it has also lead to the need for more complex terminals, capable of continuously steering their beams toward the satellites. User terminals and their corresponding antennas become therefore crucial elements of the system. For employment in aeronautics, user terminals must adhere to avionic environment-specific constraints, affecting the achievable performance. This article focuses on the special constraints on the antenna terminal while taking into account an avionics satellite communication scenario for commercial aircrafts and identifies potentialities and limitations of the use of NGSO systems as well as of the current technologies in market for airborne terminals.