Downlink capacity of a packet-switched broadband LEO satellite network with hopping beams

We analyze the throughput of the downlink segment of a low Earth orbit (LEO) global broadband satellite network. The downlink design uses a set of hopping spot beams, each of which can be pointed independently to any fixed Earth cell within the satellite footprint on a per-packet basis. Due to interference constraints, some amount of spatial isolation among beams is required. Thus, while a beam illuminates a cell, it effectively blocks a number of neighboring cells from receiving any transmission. We present upper and lower bounds on the downlink throughput as a function of the number of spot beams, the interference constraints, and the coverage area. The bounds provide insight into the interrelationship between various downlink parameters in the design process. The results are verified through Monte Carlo simulations