Geostationary orbit (GEO)
Also known as: GEO, geostationary orbit, geosynchronous equatorial orbit, Clarke orbit
A geostationary orbit (GEO) is a circular orbit about 35,786 kilometres above the equator where a satellite takes exactly one day to circle the Earth, so it appears fixed in the sky.
That's why satellite TV dishes can point at one spot and never move. While GEO satellites cover huge areas with just a few spacecraft, their distance creates a noticeable delay, which is why internet services have shifted toward low Earth orbit.
Geostationary orbit (GEO), explained at three levels
At home
Some satellites circle Earth at exactly the same speed the planet spins, so they seem to stay in one spot in the sky. That's why your satellite TV dish points in one direction and never needs to move.
At work
Geostationary satellites provide broadcasting, weather monitoring, and communications over wide regions with few satellites, making them cost-effective for coverage.
At home
Because GEO satellites are so far away, signals take about a quarter-second to travel up and down. For internet, a round trip can take around 600 milliseconds, which makes video calls and online games feel laggy.
At work
GEO satellites are positioned in assigned 'slots' coordinated internationally through the ITU. Each can cover roughly a third of Earth's surface. Uses include TV distribution, maritime and aviation connectivity, weather imaging (such as GOES satellites), and military communications.
At home
GEO satellites can't see the far north well, because the equator is so far from the Arctic and the satellites sit low on the horizon. In my opinion, that's a big reason northern Canada has always had poor satellite coverage.
At work
Satellites nearing end of life are moved to a 'graveyard orbit' above GEO to free slots. High-throughput GEO satellites use spot beams for more capacity. Many operators now combine GEO with LEO in multi-orbit services, balancing coverage, latency, and cost.
Real-world examples
At home
Marcus watches satellite TV at his cottage in Muskoka. The dish points at one fixed spot in the southern sky because the satellite sits over the equator, moving with Earth's rotation.
At work
Nadia manages communications for a Canadian shipping company. Her fleet uses GEO satellites for reliable coverage across oceans, adding LEO service for crew internet where latency matters more.
How it compares
| feature | Geostationary orbit (GEO) | Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation |
|---|---|---|
| Position in sky | Fixed | Moving constantly |
| Dish type | Fixed pointing dish | Electronically steered antenna |
| Latency | High | Low |
| Arctic coverage | Poor | Good with polar orbits |
GEO stays put but is far away. LEO is close but always moving.
For analysts
For applications sensitive to delay, such as voice calls or remote control, GEO links can be frustrating. I'd match the orbit to the use case rather than assuming all satellite internet performs the same.
History & origin
Science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke described using geostationary satellites for global communications in a 1945 article. Syncom 3, launched in 1964, became the first geostationary satellite and broadcast parts of the Tokyo Olympics to the United States. Canada's Anik A1, launched in 1972, was the world's first domestic geostationary communications satellite, linking northern communities. GEO became the standard for TV broadcasting, weather satellites, and satellite internet. Satellite internet from GEO, such as Viasat and HughesNet, served rural areas but with high latency. In my view, Anik A1 is an underappreciated Canadian achievement that shows how satellites have always mattered more in a country this big.