What frequencies are used for SATCOM?

Written by Editorial Team | Last Updated: August 2026

Satellite communications (SATCOM) utilize specific radio frequency bands allocated by international telecommunications bodies. Common bands include the L-band and S-band (frequently used for mobile satellite phones and GPS), the C-band and Ku-band (widely deployed for television broadcasting and fixed VSAT terminals), and the Ka-band (utilized for high-throughput broadband internet and military data networks).

Satellite communications (SATCOM) rely on specific segments of the microwave radio spectrum, categorized into various alphabetical bands based on their frequency ranges and unique physical properties. The L-band (1 to 2 GHz) is highly resilient to adverse weather and rain fade, making it the global standard for mobile satellite phones, maritime safety, and GPS navigation. The C-band (4 to 8 GHz) provides incredibly stable, weather-resistant links typically used for legacy broadcast television and fixed enterprise data. The Ku-band (12 to 18 GHz) is the traditional workhorse for direct-to-home satellite television and VSAT corporate networks, though it can suffer from heavy rain interference. Finally, the Ka-band (26 to 40 GHz) represents the modern era of ultra-high-throughput satellite broadband, utilized by providers like Starlink and Viasat to deliver fiber-like internet speeds by transmitting massive amounts of data across highly concentrated spot beams.

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