Two-way or bidirectional satellite communications rely on Earth stations that can perform both uplink and downlink functions to enable two-way affordable, resilient connectivity for critical assets globally. The rapid growth in deployments of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations coupled with growing satellite IoT requirements is stimulating uptake of new services such as satellite broadband and direct-to-device smartphone communications.
LEO is important here because the satellites orbit between 500 and 2,000km, radically reducing the distance between the device and the satellite in comparison to geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellites. This benefits two-way communication by enabling lower latency and by allowing lower cost constellations to be launched. Latency for LEO constellations is typically between 20-50 milliseconds.
Primed for take-off
Analyst firm Omdia expects these new services to have a significant impact on satellite IoT revenues for service providers. The firm says these are set to grow at a 23.8% CAGR between 2023 and 2030 and the satellite IoT market is “primed for take-off”. Two-way communication means that devices can not only send data one-way to report statuses and communicate information, they can also receive instructions and operate intelligently in real-time. This type of communication is fundamental to enabling automation and enabling remote devices to react to the data they collect.
Two-way capability moves satellite communication on from basic device monitoring enablement, adding new business cases that allow for action-driven communications thanks to bi-directional messaging. Devices can now receive communications that trigger actions, such as real-time employee alerts or instructions to speed up, slow down or turn off machinery. Use cases, such as remote diagnostics, can also be enabled reducing the need for physical site visits and helping to maximise uptime.
Across agriculture, utilities, fleets, asset monitoring, and emergency response and disaster management, organisations increasingly rely on secure connectivity to enable their data flows. IoT operations by their nature rely on two-way traffic to report data and receive requests for more detail or instructions to act upon that data. These models are well understood in populated areas covered by cellular and fixed line connectivity but, until now, have not been properly explored for higher volume device deployments because of the cost and perceived complexity of satellite communications.
The best of both worlds
Today, the situation is already changing thanks to the arrival of cost-effective LEO satellite technology and the smooth integration of satellite with cellular. Users really can get the best of both worlds, accessing the cost efficiency of cellular where available and turning to two-way satellite communications when there is no cellular coverage. Don’t forget that cellular blackspots are still enormous covering deserts, jungles, rural areas and, of course, the surface of the Earth’s oceans. Availability of two-way satellite communication transforms the game, making real-time communication practical for a vast array of use cases.
To learn more about how two-way satellite communication is changing how devices connect and transfer information, read on: https://www.iot-now.com/2025/11/10/153915-when-networks-fail-satellite-keeps-people-operations-connected/
George Malim