A study on THz communications between Low Earth Orbit constellations and Earth Stations

Abstract

A non-terrestrial system that uses Terahertz (THz) frequencies is a potential solution to achieving equal access to the Internet worldwide. This paper describes a non-terrestrial system that consists of a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation, Earth Stations in Motion (ESIMs) and standard Earth stations. We examine the effects of rain, fog, clouds and atmospheric gases for this non-terrestrial system for frequencies between 100-300 GHz. The research findings suggest that the frequency bands between 102 - 109.5 GHz are rather suitable for communication between Earth stations and satellites, including ESIMs, reaching in a critical scenario uplink data rates of up to 2.6 Gbits/s with 0.5 GHz of bandwidth or up to 12 Gbits/s with 5 GHz of bandwidth in uplink. For the downlink, we can reach up to 6 Mbits/s with a transmitted power of 29 dBW, but if we increase the power transmitted by satellites, it is possible to reach up to 25 Gbits/s with 2.5GHz of bandwidth. Under clear, blue-sky conditions, we can achieve a maximum data rate of 17.3 Gbits/s for downlink and uplink. For inter-satellite links (communications between satellites in the same orbit or between different orbits), the frequency bands between 111.8 - 114.25 GHz, 116 - 123 GHz, 174.5 - 182 GHz, 185 - 190 GHz are viable, offering speeds from 1.5 to 2.51 Gbits/s when using a uniform rectangular array with 625 radiating elements. This research provides new findings from the amalgamation of existing literature, which is crucial for the future allocation of optimal frequencies between 100 - 300 GHz for satellite services.