Satellite Based Internet of Things for Smart and Resilient Urban Infrastructure Development: Bridging the Connectivity Gap

Purpose:Terrestrial or ground communication networks remain inaccessible or unreliable across vast urban peripheries and underserved municipalities, particularly in developing nations, impeding the deployment of smart city solutions. This abstract investigates the transformative potential of satellite-based IoT encompassing Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations - as a foundational communication layer for resilient, inclusive, and globally scalable smart city infrastructure in both developing and developed national contexts.MethodologyThe study adopts a mixed-methods approach combining a global literature review of satellite IoT deployments, technical performance benchmarking of leading constellation systems (including LEO networks), and policy analysis of satellite spectrum governance. Case analyses are drawn from smart city pilots in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, South America, and remote urban corridors in developed nations. A systems-thinking framework is applied to evaluate end-to-end integration from orbital assets to urban management platformsMain FindingsSatellite-based IoT substantially extends the geographic reach of smart city systems, enabling real-time monitoring of water distribution, waste management, air quality, flood detection, and traffic in areas beyond terrestrial network coverage. LEO constellations offer latency performance increasingly suitable for near-real-time urban applications. In developing nations, satellite IoT is found to leapfrog conventional infrastructure gaps, enabling governments to deploy smart governance tools without extensive ground-based investment in urban planning and road network identification. However, prohibitive terminal costs, spectrum allocation conflicts, orbital congestion, and limited local technical expertise in governance pose significant implementation barriers.RecommendationsGovernments and municipal authorities should integrate satellite IoT into national smart city masterplans as a complementary and backup layer to terrestrial networks. International bodies should facilitate equitable access to satellite spectrum for developing nations and streamline licensing frameworks.