The Impact of GEO Satellite Latency on Twitch Live Streams

Live video streaming is widespread and a heavy consumer of Internet bandwidth. As such, it is important to evaluate the quality of that streaming, particularly over links that may pose challenges to near-real-time content delivery. In this paper, we study the performance of Twitch, one of the leading live streaming platforms, over Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite networks; GEO networks are a key technology for connecting users in challenging environments, yet they suffer from high latency. To do so, we conduct controlled experiments that compare Twitch live stream performance on a high-latency GEO network to that on a low-latency campus network. We analyze core quality of experience metrics – resolution, frames per second, rebuffering, and playback delay – to pinpoint how satellite-induced delays disrupt streaming quality. Our findings reveal a critical flaw in Twitch’s client scheduling: chunk request intervals are not calibrated to accommodate GEO network latency. As a result, playback buffers deplete before the next video chunk arrives, triggering frequent rebuffering, increased latency, and a notable deterioration in quality of experience. By highlighting this gap, our work underscores the urgency of latency-aware streaming strategies and adaptive scheduling algorithms. These insights offer actionable guidance for platform developers, satellite ISPs, and researchers, ultimately paving the way for more robust, inclusive live stream experiences as the medium’s popularity and influence continue to climb.