Satellite communications ground stations and gateways

Satellite communications ground stations and gateways connect space links to users and terrestrial networks. A satellite or transponder relays signals; a gateway links the space segment to terrestrial backhaul; a user terminal reaches the satellite; and network-management systems authenticate users and allocate capacity. Fibre-optic landing stations and internet exchange points and Submarine communications cables may provide the terrestrial route beyond the gateway.

Licensing is another layer. Regulators authorise stations, spectrum and market access. The FCC's earth-station framework establishes administrative control in the United States, but a licence is not evidence that a station serves a strategic purpose. Commercial broadband, broadcasting and emergency response use the same infrastructure as military communications.

The KA-SAT incident began on 24 February 2022 and disrupted service for users in Ukraine and elsewhere. Viasat's account described malicious activity affecting a management segment and customer modems. On 10 May 2022, the European Union attributed the cyberattack to the Russian Federation. The operator's technical report, observed outage and official attribution are separate evidentiary steps. The outage did not mean the satellite itself was destroyed.

This distinction matters for Space and satellite-service denial. Denial can target a gateway, terminal, management system, spectrum link, operator policy or satellite. Effects vary by network architecture and recovery. CISA guidance addresses defensive measures for providers and customers; it does not adjudicate responsibility for every incident.

Substitution can involve another gateway, terrestrial route or network, but terminals, spectrum, capacity and contracts may not be interoperable. Satellite constellations and Starlink-class LEO networks can add route diversity, yet they retain gateways, terminals and operator controls. Resilience therefore depends on architecture and operations rather than the number of satellites alone.

See also Economic statecraft.

Sources

• FCC, space stations and earth stations
• European Union attribution of the KA-SAT cyberattack, 10 May 2022
• Viasat, KA-SAT cyberattack overview
• CISA, strengthening SATCOM cybersecurity