I participated in COMSNETS 2025 (International Conference on COMmunication Systems & NETworkS) in Bangalore, India, where I served as a panelist and delivered a keynote talk on the evolution of LEO satellite networks and their impact on Internet infrastructure.
Keynote presentation on LEO satellite networks at COMSNETS 2025
My keynote focused on the transformative impact of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations on global Internet connectivity, drawing from our extensive measurement studies of Starlink and other satellite networks. The talk covered LEO satellite architecture and the unique characteristics of mega-constellations, performance measurements from our multi-year study, CDN integration and how content delivery networks adapt to satellite links, implications for bridging the digital divide, and technical and operational infrastructure challenges.
The panel discussion brought together leading researchers and industry experts to discuss the future of satellite-based Internet access, integration challenges with terrestrial networks, security and privacy considerations, regulatory and policy frameworks, and environmental impact of mega-constellations. The discussion was particularly relevant for India, where satellite Internet has the potential to bridge connectivity gaps in rural and remote areas, provide backup and resilience for critical infrastructure, enable new applications in IoT, smart cities, and Industry 4.0, and support digital inclusion initiatives.
Our work on LEO satellite networks continues to inform both academic research and practical deployment through the ANRP 2025 award for our CDN performance study, coverage in Rest of World News on Starlink's African impact, recognition at IETF/IRTF meetings, and ongoing collaborations with industry partners. The conversations at COMSNETS 2025 highlighted the growing importance of satellite networks in the Internet ecosystem as LEO constellations expand globally.