SPEAR Lab has supported the installation of Starlink connectivity at the Do IoT Fieldlab on TU Delft Campus. The fieldlab recently installed a Starlink dish to investigate satellite network performance, marking an exciting development in understanding how Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity performs in real-world IoT deployments. We are proud to contribute our expertise in satellite network measurements to this initiative.
The facility selected Starlink because its Low Earth Orbit satellites operate much closer to Earth than traditional geostationary satellites, significantly reducing latency. What makes this particularly interesting is that these satellites use laser connectivity for direct ground-to-space communication, reducing dependence on extensive ground station infrastructure. While European fiber infrastructure is robust in urban areas, remote and mountainous regions still lack dependable connectivity where traditional cables and cell towers aren't feasible. This installation serves as both a connectivity solution and a research tool, enabling scientists and companies to evaluate satellite network reliability and data routing capabilities.
Joining the LeoScope Testbed
The Do IoT Fieldlab is now part of the LeoScope testbed, an international platform that allows researchers worldwide to conduct experiments across multiple Starlink network points. This collaborative approach is generating valuable insights into regional satellite behavior, performance limitations, and the unique characteristics of LEO networks. Our involvement extends our measurement methodologies from academic studies to real-world IoT infrastructure deployments, providing ground truth data that complements our ongoing research.
One of the key research questions we're exploring involves routing patterns and their implications for IoT applications. Currently, Dutch Starlink users route through German ground stations, which raises interesting questions about network latency, regulatory compliance for data routing, and operational reliability for latency-sensitive applications like autonomous drones and robotics. Understanding these routing behaviors is essential for deploying satellite-connected IoT infrastructure that can meet real-world performance requirements.
Real-World Impact
This collaboration allows SPEAR Lab to extend our satellite network research beyond pure measurement studies. We're particularly interested in how satellite connectivity performs for IoT workloads that require consistent low latency and high reliability. The Do IoT Fieldlab provides an ideal testbed for evaluating satellite networks in scenarios ranging from remote industrial IoT deployments to emergency response communications, building on our previous work characterizing Starlink performance across different continents and use cases.