An orbital path for satellites that circle at high speeds at relatively close distances from the Earth
A satellite orbit close to earth that enables high-speed, low-latency communications
LEO (Low Earth Orbit) refers to an orbital path for satellites that circle the Earth at an altitude of 2,000 kilometers or less above the surface. Compared with GEO (Geosynchronous Earth Orbit), LEO is much closer to the Earth. Satellites operating in this orbit are known as LEO satellites, and are increasingly being used for communications services, including Internet connectivity and smartphone networks, as well as Earth observation.
GEO satellites, which have long served as a part of critical social infrastructure, operate further away at an altitude of approximately 36,000 kilometers. Because of their significant distance from the Earth, signal transmissions take time. In contrast, LEO satellites are much closer to the planet, making them well suited for communications services that require better performance in real-time. While LEO satellites enable high-speed, low-latency communications, they orbit the Earth at high speed, meaning that a single satellite can only provide coverage over a limited area and for a specific period of time. As a result, maintaining stable communications across wide regions requires multiple satellites operating in a coordinated fashion.
Under its vision of Ubiquitous Transformation (UTX), SoftBank aims to build communications infrastructure that keeps people connected anytime and anywhere by integrating terrestrial mobile networks with satellite communications and HAPS (High Altitude Platform Stations) that operate in the stratosphere. LEO satellites are an important element of SoftBank’s UTX vision.
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(Posted on March 6, 2026)
by SoftBank News Editors
