Techno-Economic Assessment of LEO Mega-Constellation with Multi-Satellite Collaboration

Advancements in small satellites and launch technologies, as well as the emerging business model, have provided new possibilities for the success of mega-constellation networks (MCNs) in the 6G era. However, the substantial costs associated with the ground segment pose a significant challenge for developing commercial satellite constellations. While inter-satellite links (ISLs) have been adopted by many constellations for global connectivity, this article explores the potential of ISLs in reducing the cost of ground segments through a comprehensive techno-economic assessment of low Earth orbit MCNs. We first analyze the business model and markets to identify key characteristics and requirements for a successful MCN. Then, a detailed evaluation on cost efficiency, based on the investigation of capabilities of ISLs and the cost estimation of ground stations, reveals a significant improvement in cost efficiency through the adoption of multi-satellite collaboration via enhanced ISLs. Specifically, the evaluation shows that adopting high-rate optical ISLs can increase system throughput by more than three times, and reduce the cost of worldwide real-time transmission by approximately 69.4 percent compared to radio-frequency-based ones. Based on the observation, we propose the potential directions for enhancing the cost efficiency of MCNs to inspire and encourage further exploration.