Inter-Satellite Link Optimization for Low-Latency Global Networking
Fuente:
arXiv
Salvato in:
| Autori principali: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Natura: | Preprint |
| Pubblicazione: |
2026
|
| Soggetti: | |
| Accesso online: | |
| Tags: |
Aggiungi Tag
Nessun Tag, puoi essere il primo ad aggiungerne!!
|
| _version_ | 1866914482112954368 |
|---|---|
| author | Mollakhani, Arman Tiamraj, Jerayu Cao, Shu-Jie Guo, Dongning |
| author_facet | Mollakhani, Arman Tiamraj, Jerayu Cao, Shu-Jie Guo, Dongning |
| contents | Large-scale low-Earth-orbit satellite constellations offer a promising platform for global low-latency networking, aided by faster propagation in free space than in fiber and copper. In such systems, end-to-end latency is largely determined by the inter-satellite link (ISL) topology. In particular, the network diameter, the maximum shortest path between any pair of satellites, serves as a key performance metric for time-sensitive applications. Designing diameter-optimal topologies is challenging due to degree constraints, line-of-sight limitations, and orbital dynamics. This paper proposes a two-stage optimization framework for ISL topology design. First, a continuous relaxation of the link selection problem is formulated as a convex program that maximizes the algebraic connectivity of the Laplacian, serving as a tractable surrogate for diameter minimization. Second, the resulting fractional solution is mapped to a feasible discrete topology using integer linear programming. An iterative local-search heuristic is also developed as a baseline. Extensive simulations on Walker-Delta constellations show that the proposed method consistently achieves smaller network diameters and improved robustness compared to conventional heuristics, while allowing trade-offs between latency and link persistence. The approach offers a principled framework for designing high-performance satellite mesh networks. For a constellation of 1,500 satellites, each equipped with four ISLs of up to 2,500 km, the network diameter can be reduced to as low as 12, yielding end-to-end delays under 90 ms between any two points on Earth. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_15528 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Inter-Satellite Link Optimization for Low-Latency Global Networking Mollakhani, Arman Tiamraj, Jerayu Cao, Shu-Jie Guo, Dongning Networking and Internet Architecture Large-scale low-Earth-orbit satellite constellations offer a promising platform for global low-latency networking, aided by faster propagation in free space than in fiber and copper. In such systems, end-to-end latency is largely determined by the inter-satellite link (ISL) topology. In particular, the network diameter, the maximum shortest path between any pair of satellites, serves as a key performance metric for time-sensitive applications. Designing diameter-optimal topologies is challenging due to degree constraints, line-of-sight limitations, and orbital dynamics. This paper proposes a two-stage optimization framework for ISL topology design. First, a continuous relaxation of the link selection problem is formulated as a convex program that maximizes the algebraic connectivity of the Laplacian, serving as a tractable surrogate for diameter minimization. Second, the resulting fractional solution is mapped to a feasible discrete topology using integer linear programming. An iterative local-search heuristic is also developed as a baseline. Extensive simulations on Walker-Delta constellations show that the proposed method consistently achieves smaller network diameters and improved robustness compared to conventional heuristics, while allowing trade-offs between latency and link persistence. The approach offers a principled framework for designing high-performance satellite mesh networks. For a constellation of 1,500 satellites, each equipped with four ISLs of up to 2,500 km, the network diameter can be reduced to as low as 12, yielding end-to-end delays under 90 ms between any two points on Earth. |
| title | Inter-Satellite Link Optimization for Low-Latency Global Networking |
| topic | Networking and Internet Architecture |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.15528 |