The year 2023 witnessed a dichotomy of interests among our visitors. While stories about Russia's disruption of Ukraine's satellite operations and the worldwide struggles of 5G technology captured attention, readers also displayed a strong desire to explore the cutting-edge developments in the field. They were particularly intrigued by the remarkable data rate records being shattered and the emergence of novel approaches to safeguard identities and authentications.
Satellite interference has reached an all-time low.
Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine has, over its nearly two-year course, has revealed a lot about the current state of electronic warfare. In early 2023, it became clear that one new branch of electronic warfare was the jamming of low Earth orbit (LEO) communications satellites. These satellites—typically CubeSats, and orbiting 2,000 kilometers or lower—have brought new challenges to satellite jamming signal compared to their bus-sized geostationary brethren.
The frequent handover of signals to the next satellite is a significant aspect of LEO satellite constellations. This handover process takes place approximately every 7 to 10 minutes, providing an opening for jammers to interfere with the signal. Moreover, LEO satellites generally have limited resources in terms of space, computing power, and security measures compared to larger satellites. Additionally, these satellites often utilize off-the-shelf components, which can introduce additional vulnerabilities.