On the Impact of Direct-to-Cell Satellite Communication in Decentralized Disaster Networks

In the future, Low-Earth Orbit satellite constellations will directly provide cellular services from space. Especially for large-scale disasters, where desperately needed communication infrastructure is often severely damaged or destroyed, this may be a significant game-changer for disaster relief efforts. However, limited or partial availability of satellite connectivity may be more probable than full coverage in the next years. This paper proposes and investigates a possible integration of direct-to-cell satellite communication in decentralized disaster networks, facilitating a combination of delay-tolerant networking with limited satellite availability. Simulation results indicate that already a few satellite links positively impact communication performance, increasing network connectivity and message spread in a city-wide disaster scenario with user mobility.