Satellite Coverage of Greenland: A Comprehensive Analysis of Arctic Connectivity and Observation

Key Takeaways

• Low Earth Orbit satellites with optical links now provide gigabit connectivity to Northern Greenland.
• Synthetic Aperture Radar enables year-round ice monitoring regardless of polar night or cloud cover.
• Highly Elliptical Orbit systems ensure redundant strategic communication for military and safety operations.

Introduction to the Arctic Orbital Landscape

The island of Greenland presents one of the most difficult environments on Earth for telecommunications and remote sensing. Spanning over two million square kilometers, the territory is characterized by a massive central ice sheet flanked by a rugged, mountainous coastline. The population is small and widely dispersed among isolated settlements that lack physical road connections. For the majority of the modern era, this geography imposed severe limitations on how the region connected with the rest of the world and how scientists monitored its rapidly changing environment.

The primary obstacle has always been the geometry of the Earth itself. The global standard for satellite communications, the Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), is located approximately 35,786 kilometers above the equator. From this vantage point, a satellite rotates at the same speed as the Earth, appearing fixed in the sky. This works exceptionally well for the majority of the global population living in mid-to-low latitudes. However, as one travels north of the 60th parallel, the curvature of the planet begins to obstruct the line of sight to these equatorial satellites.

For a resident in Nuuk, a geostationary satellite appears to hover just above the southern horizon. The signal must pass through a thick cross-section of the atmosphere, making it susceptible to interference from weather and atmospheric disturbances. For communities further north, such as Qaanaaq or the research stations on the summit of the ice sheet, geostationary satellites are often entirely below the horizon. This physical reality created a significant digital divide, leaving the high Arctic reliant on expensive, low-bandwidth solutions for decades.

As of January 23, 2026, the situation has undergone a radical transformation. The deployment of mega-constellations in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and specialized systems in Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) has effectively eliminated the coverage gaps. These satellites do not remain in a fixed position relative to the ground. Instead, they sweep over the poles in varying orbital planes, ensuring that even the most remote fjord or glacier is constantly within view of a spacecraft. This article provides a detailed examination of the current state of satellite coverage over Greenland, exploring the technical architectures, scientific applications, and socio-economic impacts of this new orbital infrastructure.

Historical Context of Arctic Communications

To appreciate the current capabilities, it is necessary to understand the legacy of isolation that defined Greenlandic communications for much of the 20th century. Before the advent of satellites, communication was achieved primarily through High Frequency (HF) radio. This technology relies on bouncing radio waves off the ionosphere to achieve over-the-horizon communication. While ingenious, HF radio is notoriously unstable in the polar regions. Solar flares and geomagnetic storms, which are common in the auroral zone, can render HF radios useless for days at a time, cutting off entire communities from the outside world.

The Cold War and Early Satellite Systems

The strategic importance of Greenland during the Cold War necessitated more reliable links. The construction of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line and the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS) at Thule Air Base required robust communication channels back to the United States. This drove the initial military investment in polar satellite communications. Early systems used rudimentary store-and-dump techniques or highly inclined orbits to pass short messages.

For the civilian population, the introduction of the Inmarsat system in the late 1970s and 1980s provided the first reliable satellite telephone links. However, Inmarsat relies on geostationary satellites. While it served the southern tip of Greenland reasonably well, the service degraded rapidly as vessels moved into the Davis Strait or Baffin Bay. The “Inmarsat gap” north of 75 degrees became a known danger zone for mariners, where safety communications could not be guaranteed.

The Iridium Breakthrough

The launch of the Iridium constellation in the late 1990s marked a pivotal moment. Unlike geostationary systems, Iridium utilized a network of 66 satellites in near-polar LEO orbits. These satellites flew from pole to pole, providing true global coverage. For the first time, a researcher anywhere on the Greenland ice sheet could deploy a handheld satellite phone and make a call. This capability revolutionized safety for expeditions and logistics, but the bandwidth was severely limited. Iridium was optimized for voice and short data bursts, not the heavy data throughput required for modern internet applications.

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Connectivity Revolution

The landscape shifted dramatically in the 2020s with the operational maturity of LEO broadband constellations. These systems utilize hundreds or thousands of small satellites orbiting between 500 and 1200 kilometers above the Earth. The proximity to the ground solves two major problems: latency and signal strength.

Starlink and the Optical Mesh

SpaceX has deployed a specific subset of its Starlink constellation into polar orbits. These shells serve the latitudes above 60 degrees North. A major engineering challenge in Greenland is the lack of terrestrial ground stations. A standard LEO satellite acts as a bent pipe, bouncing a signal from a user up to the satellite and immediately down to a gateway station connected to the internet backbone. If there is no gateway within the satellite’s footprint (roughly 1000 km diameter), the connection is impossible.

Building and powering fiber-connected ground stations in the interior of Greenland is logistically impractical. Starlink solved this through the use of optical inter-satellite links, often referred to as space lasers. When a user in a remote settlement like Ittoqqortoormiit connects to the internet, their data is beamed up to a satellite. That satellite then uses a laser to transmit the data to another satellite in the constellation, and potentially another, hopping across the orbital shell until the data reaches a satellite positioned over a gateway in a location with robust infrastructure, such as Newfoundland or Iceland. This mesh network effectively creates a fiber-optic cable in the sky, bypassing the difficult terrestrial terrain of the Arctic.

Eutelsat OneWeb and Enterprise Solutions

The Eutelsat Group operates the OneWeb constellation, which was designed with the Arctic as a priority market. OneWeb satellites orbit in highly inclined polar planes. As these satellites travel northward, their paths converge at the pole, resulting in a high density of spacecraft over Greenland. At any given moment, a user in Greenland likely has a line of sight to multiple OneWeb satellites.

This architectural redundancy makes the service particularly attractive for enterprise and government users who require guaranteed uptime. Tusass, the national telecommunications provider of Greenland, has integrated OneWeb into its infrastructure. Instead of trying to lay cables to every small settlement, Tusass uses OneWeb user terminals to provide backhaul for local cellular networks. This means that a resident in a village of 50 people can access 4G or 5G mobile data on their phone, with the traffic being routed through space to the core network in Nuuk. This hybrid model has rapidly accelerated the digitalization of the country.

Telesat Lightspeed

The Canadian operator Telesat is deploying its Lightspeed constellation, which also targets high-latitude users. Given Greenland’s proximity to Canada and shared Arctic challenges, this network provides an additional layer of competition and redundancy. Lightspeed focuses on high-throughput enterprise links, suitable for connecting large facilities like mines or airports that require gigabit-level speeds and service level agreements that consumer-grade services may not offer.

Highly Elliptical Orbits (HEO): The Strategic Layer

While LEO satellites offer speed, they are transient. A LEO satellite zips across the sky in about 10 minutes, requiring the user antenna to constantly track and switch connections. For mission-critical military and strategic applications, a more persistent view is often required. This need is met by Highly Elliptical Orbits, specifically the Molniya orbit.

A satellite in a Molniya orbit follows a long, looped path. It spends the majority of its orbital period (usually 12 hours) lingering over the Northern Hemisphere at a very high altitude, often exceeding 40,000 kilometers. During this time, it appears to move very slowly across the sky, remaining available for hours. It then whips around the Southern Hemisphere at high speed to return to the top of the loop.

The Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM)

A key operational system in 2026 utilizing this orbit is the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission, run by Space Norway. This mission consists of two satellites that provide continuous broadband coverage to the entire Arctic region. By having two satellites in phased HEO orbits, as one begins to drop below the horizon, the other is rising to its peak, ensuring there is always one satellite high overhead.

These satellites carry military X-band payloads for the United States and Norway, as well as commercial Ka-band payloads. This system provides a strategic backstop to the LEO commercial networks. In a scenario where LEO links are degraded or jammed, the HEO assets provide a resilient, high-altitude lifeline for command and control. The high elevation angle of these satellites is particularly beneficial for aircraft and naval vessels operating in deep fjords, where the steep canyon walls might block the line of sight to a LEO satellite lower on the horizon.

Earth Observation: Monitoring the Cryosphere

Greenland is arguably the most watched island on Earth from space. The health of the Greenland ice sheet is a primary indicator of global climate change, and satellite remote sensing is the only viable way to monitor such a vast and hostile environment.

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Capabilities

Visual observation of Greenland is frequently impossible. The region experiences months of total darkness during the polar winter, and during the summer, it is often shrouded in dense cloud cover or fog. Optical satellites can go weeks without capturing a clear image. To overcome this, the scientific community relies on Synthetic Aperture Radar.

The Copernicus Programme, managed by the European Commission, operates the Sentinel-1 mission. These satellites emit radar pulses that pass through clouds and darkness to strike the ice surface. The reflected signal provides data on the surface texture and topography. By using a technique called Interferometric SAR (InSAR), scientists can detect minute shifts in the ground. This allows them to map the flow velocity of glaciers with high precision. They can see exactly how fast the ice is moving toward the ocean and identify areas where the flow is accelerating.

Laser Altimetry and Ice Volume

Measuring the surface area of the ice is important, but measuring the volume is vital for calculating sea-level rise contributions. This requires precise elevation data. NASA addresses this with the ICESat-2 mission. The satellite carries the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS), a photon-counting lidar.

ATLAS fires 10,000 laser pulses per second at the Earth. It measures the time it takes for individual photons to bounce off the ice and return to the satellite’s telescope. This flight time is converted into elevation measurements with an accuracy of a few centimeters. By comparing this data with previous missions, scientists can create 3D maps showing exactly where the ice sheet is thinning (mostly at the coastal margins) and where it might be thickening due to increased snowfall (in the high interior).

Gravimetric Sensing

A completely different approach involves weighing the ice from space. The GRACE-FO (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On) mission uses two satellites flying in formation. The distance between them is constantly measured with microwave or laser links. As the lead satellite flies over a mass concentration (like a mountain or a thick ice sheet), the gravity pulls it slightly forward, changing the distance to the trailing satellite.

By mapping these minute variations in the Earth’s gravity field, GRACE-FO provides a monthly estimate of the mass change of the Greenland ice sheet. This is a direct measurement of water mass lost to the ocean, providing a important validation check for the data derived from altimetry and radar models.

Meteorology and Weather Forecasting

Accurate weather forecasting in Greenland is a matter of life and death. The weather can change instantly, transforming a clear day into a blinding blizzard (piteraq). Ground-based weather stations are sparse, separated by hundreds of kilometers of uninhabited ice. Therefore, satellites provide the vast majority of the data used in numerical weather prediction models for the region.

Polar Orbiting Weather Satellites

Agencies like NOAA and EUMETSAT operate polar-orbiting meteorological satellites, such as the JPSS series and the MetOp series. These satellites carry instruments like the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS).

These instruments image cloud cover, storm systems, and sea ice extent. More importantly, they carry sounders that profile the atmosphere vertically, measuring temperature and humidity at different altitudes. This data is ingested into supercomputers to generate forecasts. Without these vertical profiles from space, the accuracy of weather predictions for the North Atlantic and Europe would be significantly degraded, as many weather systems that affect Europe originate or intensify near Greenland.

Navigation and Positioning (GNSS)

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are essential for travel in a landscape with no roads and few landmarks. However, the high latitude poses specific challenges for systems like GPS.

Geometric Dilution of Precision

Because GPS satellites orbit in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) with an inclination of 55 degrees, they never pass directly over the pole. For a user in Northern Greenland, the GPS satellites are always located in the southern half of the sky. This clustering of satellites can lead to a high Geometric Dilution of Precision (GDOP), meaning the triangulation solution is less accurate, particularly in the vertical dimension.

The European Galileo system offers an advantage here. Its satellites orbit at a higher inclination (56 degrees) and higher altitude, which improves their visibility in high latitudes compared to older GPS blocks. The inclusion of the Russian GLONASS system, which has the highest inclination of the major constellations, further improves availability. Modern receivers in Greenland typically utilize a “multi-constellation” approach, tracking GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, and BeiDou simultaneously to ensure a reliable position fix even in deep fjords where parts of the sky are blocked by terrain.

The Ground Segment: Gateways to the World

The satellites orbiting overhead are tethered to the terrestrial internet via ground stations. Greenland hosts some of the most strategic ground infrastructure in the world.

Pituffik Space Base

The Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) is located at 76 degrees North. This location is geologically stable and provides a clear view of the northern sky. Its primary value to the U.S. Space Force lies in its ability to contact polar-orbiting satellites on every single revolution.

A satellite in a polar orbit takes about 90 minutes to circle the Earth. As the Earth rotates underneath the orbit, the satellite’s ground track shifts. A ground station in the United States might only see the satellite for a few passes a day. Pituffik, sitting near the axis of rotation, sees them all. This allows for the rapid downlink of intelligence imagery and scientific data. The base is also home to the Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR), a massive phased-array radar that tracks objects in space, contributing to the Space Surveillance Network’s catalog of debris and active satellites.

Commercial Teleports

With the data explosion from LEO constellations, new commercial ground stations have emerged. Companies like Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) operate extensive antenna parks. In Greenland, facilities in places like Nuuk and Tasiilaq serve as gateways. These stations consist of radome-enclosed antennas that track LEO satellites as they arc across the sky. They downlink the user traffic and route it onto the Greenland Connect submarine fiber cable.

The “Greenland Connect” cable is a critical piece of the puzzle. It runs from Newfoundland to Nuuk and Qaqortoq, and then continues to Iceland. This fiber ring provides the high-capacity backhaul that makes the satellite gateways effective. Without this subsea cable, the data downlinked from the satellites would have nowhere to go. The synergy between the space segment and the subsea segment is vital for the country’s connectivity.

Maritime Surveillance and Sovereignty

As the Arctic warms, the sea ice is retreating, opening new shipping lanes and increasing access to natural resources. This has brought renewed attention to the defense and sovereignty of Greenland. The Danish Joint Arctic Command (JAC) relies heavily on satellite assets to monitor the vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around the island.

Automatic Identification System (AIS)

All large commercial vessels are mandated to transmit their position, course, and speed via AIS. Because the curvature of the Earth limits the range of shore-based AIS receivers, satellites are used to detect these VHF signals from space. Companies like Spire Global operate nanosatellites that listen for AIS “pings” and relay the ship tracks to maritime authorities.

Dark Vessel Detection

A major concern is “dark vessels” (ships that turn off their AIS transponders to hide their location). This is common among illegal fishing fleets or covert military vessels. To counter this, defense forces utilize satellite radar. A metal ship reflects radar energy very differently than water or ice. By programming a SAR satellite like Sentinel-1 or a commercial equivalent to scan a specific area of ocean, analysts can identify bright radar returns that indicate a ship. If a radar return is found in a location where there is no corresponding AIS signal, it is flagged as a dark vessel. This intelligence allows the JAC to efficiently direct its limited number of patrol ships and aircraft to investigate suspicious activity, rather than patrolling randomly.

The GIUK Gap Monitoring

The Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom (GIUK) Gap is a strategic naval chokepoint. It is the gateway between the Arctic and the Atlantic. During conflicts, controlling this gap is essential to prevent submarines from entering shipping lanes in the North Atlantic. Satellites play a key role in monitoring this corridor. Optical satellites can detect surface ships in clear weather, while electronic intelligence (ELINT) satellites listen for radar and radio emissions from naval task forces. The data from these space assets is fused with acoustic data from underwater sensors to create a comprehensive operating picture for NATO commanders.

Socio-Economic Impact on Communities

The arrival of true broadband connectivity in Greenland is reshaping the social and economic fabric of the nation. For decades, the disparity in internet access between the capital, Nuuk, and the remote settlements created a two-tier society. The new satellite infrastructure is leveling this playing field.

Transformation of Healthcare

Telemedicine is a primary beneficiary. Greenland’s healthcare system is centralized, with advanced care available only in Nuuk or via transfer to Denmark. In the past, a patient in a village like Siorapaluk might have to be evacuated by helicopter for a diagnostic consultation, a costly and weather-dependent procedure.

With low-latency LEO connections, local nursing stations can now host high-definition video consultations. Doctors in Nuuk can guide a nurse to perform ultrasounds or other examinations, viewing the data in real-time. This capability reduces the burden on the medical evacuation budget and allows patients to receive care without leaving their community and support network.

Educational Equity

Distance learning has also evolved. Previously, satellite connections were too slow and expensive for video streaming. Students in remote settlements had limited access to specialized teachers or advanced subjects. Today, a classroom in a settlement can connect largely seamlessly to a lecture in Nuuk or Copenhagen. This allows for interactive language training, science education, and vocational courses that were previously inaccessible. It helps to reduce the “brain drain” by allowing young people to pursue education without immediately migrating to the capital.

Economic Diversification

The economy of Greenland is heavily dependent on fisheries and the block grant from Denmark. Connectivity opens doors for diversification. The tourism industry benefits from being able to offer guests reliable internet, which is increasingly a requirement for modern travelers. Small businesses can process credit card payments instantly rather than relying on slow batch processing.

Furthermore, the mining and exploration sector utilizes satellite data for logistics. Moving fuel and heavy equipment across the ice requires precise knowledge of crevasses and melt streams. High-resolution satellite imagery allows companies to plan safe routes for their convoys, reducing the risk of accidents and environmental damage.

Challenges and Operational Risks

Despite the technological triumphs, operating in the Arctic space domain remains fraught with challenges.

Ionospheric Scintillation

The Arctic ionosphere is a dynamic plasma environment, constantly agitated by the solar wind. This is the mechanism that creates the aurora, but it also creates “scintillation.” This phenomenon involves rapid fluctuations in the phase and amplitude of radio signals passing through the ionosphere. It can cause GPS receivers to lose lock and can disrupt satellite communications links.

Scintillation is most intense during the peak of the solar cycle and during geomagnetic storms. Satellite operators must design their receivers with robust tracking loops to maintain connection during these turbulence events. For users on the ground, this can manifest as brief internet outages or a degradation in position accuracy during periods of high auroral activity.

The Space Debris Hazard

Polar orbits are becoming the most crowded highways in space. Because all polar satellites must cross over the North and South Poles, the spatial density of objects increases dramatically at these convergence points. This increases the statistical risk of collision.

A collision between two satellites in a polar orbit would be catastrophic, generating a cloud of debris that would stay in that orbital plane for centuries, potentially rendering the orbit unusable. The Space Data Associationand national space commands work tirelessly to screen for potential conjunctions (close approaches). Operators of mega-constellations like Starlink and OneWeb have implemented automated collision avoidance systems that fire thrusters to dodge debris, but the sheer number of satellites launched in recent years has elevated this risk significantly.

Logistics and Maintenance

Maintaining ground infrastructure in Greenland is a logistical nightmare. Equipment must be robust enough to survive temperatures below -40 degrees Celsius and wind speeds that can exceed 200 kilometers per hour. Power is often generated by diesel generators, which rely on fuel shipments that can only arrive during the short summer shipping window.

If a radome at a remote gateway is damaged by a winter storm, it may be months before a repair crew can safely reach the site. This necessitates a high degree of redundancy in the system design. Satellites with inter-satellite links reduce this dependency on local ground stations, providing a workaround if a specific gateway goes offline.

Future Trends and Developments

Looking beyond 2026, the integration of space and Arctic operations will deepen.

Direct-to-Device Connectivity

The next frontier is direct-to-device satellite connectivity. Companies are working on technology that allows standard smartphones to connect directly to LEO satellites without a specialized dish. This would be a game-changer for safety in Greenland. A hunter or fisherman traveling outside of cellular range would have a permanent lifeline in their pocket, capable of sending distress texts or even voice calls via satellite. This ubiquitous coverage would drastically improve the safety net for the local population.

Hybrid Multi-Orbit Networks

Future user terminals will likely be “multi-orbit,” capable of switching seamlessly between LEO, MEO, and HEO satellites. A user terminal might use Starlink (LEO) for high-speed gaming or video, but switch to a Space Norway (HEO) satellite for a stable voice call if the LEO signal is blocked by a mountain. This hybridization provides the ultimate reliability, combining the low latency of LEO with the persistence of HEO.

Quantum Key Distribution

The Arctic may also play a role in the future quantum internet. The secure, isolated nature of locations like Greenland makes them ideal for ground stations receiving Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) signals from satellites. These quantum keys are used to create unhackable encryption. As cyber threats evolve, the strategic value of Greenland’s ground stations as secure data nodes will likely increase.

Comparative Analysis of Satellite Systems

To summarize the technical landscape, the following table compares the primary satellite systems currently serving Greenland.

Summary

The narrative of satellite coverage in Greenland has evolved from a story of scarcity to one of abundance. For decades, the region was defined by its digital isolation, a byproduct of its high latitude and challenging geography. The reliance on erratic HF radio and marginal geostationary signals hindered economic development and complicated emergency response.

Today, that era is over. The successful deployment of polar-orbiting LEO constellations has woven a high-speed digital fabric over the entire island. Optical inter-satellite links have nullified the lack of ground infrastructure, while specialized HEO missions provide the strategic resilience required by military and government actors. Concurrently, a fleet of advanced Earth observation satellites acts as a planetary dashboard, providing the data necessary to understand the complex dynamics of the ice sheet and its impact on global sea levels.

While challenges remain, particularly regarding space weather and the sustainability of orbital traffic, the infrastructure in place as of 2026 ensures that Greenland is no longer on the periphery of the global network. It is a fully connected, monitored, and strategic node in the modern world, bridged to the rest of the planet by the constellations orbiting above.

Appendix: Top 10 Questions Answered in This Article

Why do standard geostationary satellites fail to cover Greenland effectively?

Geostationary satellites orbit above the equator, which places them very low on the horizon when viewed from the high latitudes of Greenland. The curvature of the Earth physically obstructs the line of sight for users in the far north, and even in the south, the signal must travel through a thick atmospheric layer, causing instability and frequent signal loss.

How does Starlink overcome the lack of ground stations in Greenland?

Starlink utilizes optical inter-satellite links, often called space lasers, to transmit data between satellites in orbit. This allows a signal from a user in Greenland to hop from satellite to satellite until it reaches a spacecraft positioned over a gateway station in a region with fiber connectivity, such as Canada or Iceland, bypassing the need for local infrastructure.

What is the specific benefit of the Molniya orbit used by the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission?

The Molniya orbit is a highly elliptical path that allows a satellite to “hang” over the Northern Hemisphere for extended periods, often up to eight hours per orbit. This provides a stable, high-elevation signal source for users in the Arctic, ensuring continuous coverage that is not easily blocked by mountains or steep fjord walls.

Why is Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) the preferred method for monitoring the Greenland ice sheet?

SAR satellites, like Sentinel-1, emit their own microwave energy to illuminate the surface, enabling them to capture clear images regardless of sunlight or weather conditions. This is essential for Greenland, which experiences months of polar night and frequent dense cloud cover that renders optical cameras ineffective.

What role does the Pituffik Space Base play in global satellite operations?

Pituffik Space Base serves as a critical high-latitude ground station that can communicate with polar-orbiting satellites on nearly every revolution. Its location near the North Pole allows for the rapid downlink of high-volume data from scientific and intelligence missions, significantly reducing the time between data collection and analysis.

How does the Galileo satellite system enhance safety for travelers in Greenland?

The Galileo system improves safety through its high-inclination orbit, which offers better visibility in high latitudes compared to older GPS satellites. Additionally, it features a Return Link Service for distress beacons, which sends a confirmation signal back to the user, reassuring them that their emergency alert has been detected and their location pinpointed.

What is ionospheric scintillation and why is it a problem in the Arctic?

Ionospheric scintillation is the rapid fluctuation of radio signals caused by charged particles in the upper atmosphere, a phenomenon often associated with the aurora borealis. This turbulence can disrupt satellite communication links and degrade the accuracy of GPS navigation, posing operational risks for aviation and maritime activities in the region.

How does NASA’s ICESat-2 mission measure ice loss?

ICESat-2 uses a sophisticated photon-counting laser altimeter to measure the time it takes for laser pulses to travel from the satellite to the ice and back. This precise timing allows scientists to calculate the elevation of the ice sheet to within centimeters, enabling detailed 3D mapping of ice volume changes over time.

How are satellites used to detect illegal “dark” vessels in Greenlandic waters?

Authorities use Synthetic Aperture Radar satellites to detect the physical radar reflection of ships, which contrasts with the surrounding water or ice. By cross-referencing these radar detections with Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracking data, they can identify vessels that have turned off their transponders to hide their activities.

What is the “digital divide” in the context of the Arctic?

The digital divide in the Arctic refers to the historical gap in internet access and quality between remote northern communities and the rest of the world. The arrival of LEO satellite constellations has largely bridged this gap, providing high-speed, low-latency broadband to Greenland that is comparable to services available in major global cities.

Appendix: Top 10 Frequently Searched Questions Answered in This Article

Does Starlink work in the most northern parts of Greenland?

Yes, Starlink’s polar shell satellites provide full coverage even in the most northern regions of Greenland. The constellation’s design ensures that satellites are constantly passing overhead, delivering high-speed internet to settlements and research camps that were previously unreachable.

How do scientists track the speed of Greenland’s glaciers?

Scientists track glacier speed using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data from satellites like Sentinel-1. By comparing two radar images taken from the same position at different times, they can measure the precise distance the ice has moved, allowing them to calculate flow velocity and detect acceleration.

Is there mobile phone coverage on the Greenland ice sheet?

There is no terrestrial cellular coverage on the ice sheet itself. Communication relies entirely on satellite technology, with expeditions using handheld satellite phones from providers like Iridium or Inmarsat, or portable terminals from Starlink, to stay in contact with the outside world.

What happens to satellite internet during a geomagnetic storm?

Geomagnetic storms can cause radio interference that disrupts satellite signals, leading to slower speeds, data packet loss, or temporary outages. The intense radiation associated with these storms can also affect the electronics on board the satellites, although modern spacecraft are hardened to withstand these conditions.

How much data can the Greenland Connect cable handle?

Greenland Connect is a high-capacity submarine fiber optic cable that connects Nuuk and Qaqortoq to Iceland and Canada. It serves as the primary digital backbone for the country, carrying the traffic for terrestrial internet services and acting as the export pipeline for data downlinked at local satellite gateways.

Can satellites see through the clouds over Greenland?

Optical satellites cannot see through clouds, but radar satellites like Sentinel-1 can. The microwave pulses used by radar systems can penetrate cloud cover, fog, and precipitation, allowing for uninterrupted monitoring of the surface regardless of the weather conditions.

Why are polar orbits necessary for covering Greenland?

Polar orbits are necessary because they are the only orbital paths that take satellites directly over the North and South Poles. Equatorial orbits, such as geostationary orbits, cannot provide a direct line of sight to the high latitudes, making polar-orbiting satellites essential for true global coverage.

How does the “Inmarsat gap” affect ships in the Arctic?

The Inmarsat gap refers to the region north of approximately 75 degrees latitude where traditional geostationary Inmarsat signals become unreliable or unusable. Ships traveling into this area must rely on alternative systems, such as Iridium or newer LEO broadband services, to maintain safety communications.

What is the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission?

The Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission is a Norwegian program utilizing two satellites in Highly Elliptical Orbits to provide continuous broadband coverage to the Arctic. It is a dual-use system carrying payloads for both military secure communications and commercial internet services for users in the high north.

Are there 5G networks in Greenland?

Yes, the telecommunications provider Tusass has deployed 5G networks in several Greenlandic towns. In many remote locations, the data from these 5G towers is backhauled to the core network via OneWeb satellite links, enabling high-speed mobile connectivity in areas without fiber connections.