Downlink performance of Ka-Band multi-beam LEO satellite systems for several mega constellation design

Thumbnail Image

Files

master_Eras_Camacho_Frank_2026.pdf (6.49 MB)

URL

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

School of Electrical Engineering | Master's thesis
Unless otherwise stated, all rights belong to the author. You may download, display and print this publication for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.

Authors

Date

2025-12-31

Department

Major/Subject

Communications Engineering

Mcode

Degree programme

Master's Programme in Computer, Communication and Information Sciences
Tieto-, tietoliikenne- ja informaatiotekniikan maisteriohjelma
Magisterprogrammet i data-, informations- och kommunikationsteknik

Language

en

Pages

70

Series

Abstract

Non-terrestrial networks (NTN) based on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites can complement to terrestrial networks, particularly to extend broadband coverage to unserved and remote areas. In this context, Ka frequency band (17.7–21.2 GHz) offers high data rates and low latency, but their performance is strongly shaped by inter-beam interference and geometrical characteristics of Mega-LEO constellations. This MSc Thesis evaluates the Ka-band downlink data rate performance of multi-beam LEO mega-constellations under 3GPP NTN framework. System-level simulations are used to characterize metrics, such as Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), Interference-to-Noise-Ratio (INR), and Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR). In addition, an analytical constellation-level model has been presented to estimate the downlink data rate per unit area, measured in bps/〖km〗^2, for different latitude locations of the users by considering the satellite visibility and footprint geometry of the satellite beams. The obtained simulation results show that the inter-beam interference is a dominant limitation for Ka-band multibeam LEO satellite systems in downlink, particularly at low elevation angles. At constellation level, the area data rate that the LEO satellite constellation can provide varies strongly with latitude due to changes in the number of visible satellites, highlighting the impact of the constellation design and minimum elevation angle for communication on the achievable downlink performance.

Description

Supervisor

Hämäläinen, Jyri

Thesis advisor

Dowhuszko, Alexis

Keywords

satellite communications, LEO multi-beam satellites, LEO mega-constellation design, non-terrestrial networks, area data rate, Matlab

Other note

Citation

Permanent link to this item

https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202601191439

Collections

[dipl] Sähkötekniikan korkeakoulu / ELEC