- Latency on satellite broadband is driven by the distance the signal must travel to orbit and back.
- Geostationary satellites orbit at around 35,786 km, giving high latency of hundreds of milliseconds.
- Low earth orbit systems are far closer, which dramatically reduces latency.
- High latency mainly affects real-time activities such as video calls and online gaming.
- For browsing, streaming and downloads, latency matters far less than for interactive tasks.
Satellite latency is high because the signal travels a long way to orbit and back; geostationary systems add hundreds of milliseconds. Low earth orbit, being far closer, reduces it, easing video calls and gaming.
Last reviewed: June 2026
What latency is
Latency is the time it takes for data to travel from a device to its destination and back, measured in milliseconds. It is separate from download speed: a connection can be fast yet still feel unresponsive if its latency is high. For most everyday browsing and streaming, modest latency goes unnoticed, but for interactive activities where each action waits on a response, latency determines how immediate the connection feels. Satellite broadband is well known for its latency characteristics, and understanding why helps explain what to expect from it and which activities are affected.
The reason satellite latency is distinctive comes down to physics: the distance the signal must travel. This is not a fault or a limitation that better equipment can simply remove, but a consequence of where the satellites are.
The physics of signal travel time
The fundamental cause of satellite latency is distance. A geostationary satellite orbits at around 35,786 km above the Earth, staying fixed relative to the ground. For data to travel from a property up to the satellite and back down, and then for the reply to make the same journey, the signal covers an enormous distance. Even at the speed of light, which is the fastest anything can travel, covering tens of thousands of kilometres takes a noticeable amount of time. This travel time, repeated for the round trip, is the main source of the high latency on geostationary satellite broadband, before any processing is added.
| Connection type | Typical latency | Suited to real-time use |
|---|---|---|
| Full fibre | About 5 to 15 ms | Excellent |
| 4G or 5G fixed wireless | About 10 to 40 ms | Good where coverage is strong |
| Low earth orbit satellite | Much lower than geostationary | Practical for calls and gaming |
| Geostationary satellite | Hundreds of ms | Difficult for real-time use |
Why geostationary latency is so high
Putting numbers to it, the round trip to a geostationary satellite and back, repeated for a request and its reply, results in latency measured in hundreds of milliseconds. This is far higher than a fixed line, where latency is typically in the low tens of milliseconds or less. The difference is entirely due to the distance involved: a geostationary satellite is so far away that the signal travel time dominates. No amount of faster equipment at the property can overcome the basic physics of the distance, which is why geostationary satellite has always had high latency regardless of the speed it offers.
How low earth orbit reduces latency
Low earth orbit systems address the latency problem by placing satellites far closer to the Earth. Instead of a single satellite tens of thousands of kilometres away, these systems use large numbers of satellites at much lower altitudes. Because the signal travels a much shorter distance to reach a satellite and return, the latency is dramatically reduced, to levels that approach what some ground-based connections offer. This is the key innovation that has made satellite broadband viable for real-time activities. The trade-off is that many satellites are needed to maintain coverage, since each low-orbit satellite covers a smaller area and moves relative to the ground.
What high latency means for activities
The impact of latency depends entirely on the activity. For browsing, streaming video and downloading files, latency matters little, because these activities tolerate delay and buffer ahead, so even high-latency geostationary satellite can handle them. The problems arise with real-time, interactive activities. Video calls become awkward with high latency, as the delay disrupts natural conversation. Online gaming, which depends on immediate responses, is very difficult on high-latency connections. So the same satellite connection can be perfectly adequate for streaming yet frustrating for a video call, depending purely on the latency and the activity.
Who is most affected
The people most affected by satellite latency are those who rely on real-time activities. Someone who works from home with frequent video calls, or who games online, will feel high latency acutely on a geostationary service. By contrast, a household that mainly browses, streams and downloads will be far less affected. This is why the type of satellite system matters so much: a low earth orbit system, with its much lower latency, opens up video calling and gaming, while a geostationary service may suit a household whose needs are mostly streaming and browsing. Matching the system to the household's activities is the key consideration.
Latency versus speed
It is important not to confuse latency with speed when assessing satellite broadband. A satellite connection can offer a good download speed while still having high latency, because the two measure different things. Speed is how much data can move per second, while latency is the delay before it starts. A household focused only on the speed figure might be surprised by how a high-latency connection feels for interactive tasks. Considering both, and understanding that latency is driven by the satellite's distance, gives a complete picture of what a satellite connection will be like to use.
Choosing with latency in mind
For anyone considering satellite broadband, latency should be a central part of the decision. If the household needs responsive video calls or online gaming, a low earth orbit system, with its much lower latency, is far better suited than a geostationary service. If the main uses are streaming, browsing and downloads, latency matters less and either type may suffice. Knowing why satellite latency is high, and how the system type affects it, allows a household to choose a service that matches how it actually uses the internet, avoiding disappointment with a connection unsuited to its needs.
The bottom line on satellite latency
In summary, satellite broadband latency is high because the signal must travel a long way to orbit and back, with geostationary satellites at around 35,786 km adding hundreds of milliseconds purely from the distance. Low earth orbit systems, being far closer, reduce latency dramatically, making real-time activities practical. High latency mainly affects video calls and gaming, while browsing, streaming and downloads are little affected. Understanding this, and choosing the system type accordingly, ensures satellite broadband meets a household's real needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is satellite broadband latency high?
The main cause is distance. A geostationary satellite orbits at around 35,786 km, so the signal must travel an enormous distance to orbit and back, and again for the reply. Even at the speed of light this takes a noticeable time, resulting in latency of hundreds of milliseconds. It is a consequence of the physics of distance rather than a fault.
Does LEO satellite broadband have lower latency?
Yes, dramatically. Low earth orbit systems place satellites far closer to the Earth than geostationary ones, so the signal travels a much shorter distance, reducing latency to levels that approach some ground-based connections. This is the key innovation that has made satellite broadband viable for real-time activities such as video calls.
Can I game online with satellite broadband?
On a low earth orbit system, with its much lower latency, online gaming is far more practical than on a geostationary service. Geostationary satellite, with latency in the hundreds of milliseconds, makes online gaming very difficult because it depends on immediate responses. The system type largely determines whether gaming is viable.
Does video calling work with satellite broadband?
It depends on the system. Low earth orbit satellite, with much lower latency, makes video calling practical, while geostationary satellite's high latency disrupts the natural flow of a call. For anyone who relies on video calls, a low earth orbit system is far better suited than an older geostationary service.
What is geostationary orbit?
Geostationary orbit is an orbit at around 35,786 km above the Earth where a satellite stays fixed relative to the ground. A single geostationary satellite can cover a large area, which is efficient for coverage, but the great distance means the signal travels a long way, giving high latency. This is why geostationary satellite broadband has always had high latency.
Does high latency affect streaming and downloads?
Not much. Browsing, streaming video and downloading files tolerate delay and buffer ahead, so even high-latency geostationary satellite can handle them well. Latency mainly affects real-time, interactive activities such as video calls and online gaming, where each action waits on a response, so the same connection can stream fine yet struggle with a call.
