Downlink optimization for direct-to-satellite IoT with LEO satellites and LoRaWAN

Direct-to-satellite communication systems for the Internet of Things, particularly those based on low-Earth-orbit satellite constellations, are emerging as a transformative solution to achieve global connectivity. However, ensuring efficient and reliable downlink communication from satellites to ground-based IoT devices remains a significant challenge due to intermittent satellite visibility, short contact durations, limited bandwidth, device energy constraints, and high network density. Unlike prior studies that primarily focus on uplink optimization, this work proposes a downlink-aware optimization framework that integrates satellite dynamics, LoRaWAN MAC constraints, and energy-aware scheduling. The framework accounts for physical-layer limitations, satellite visibility modeling, time-slot feasibility, and realistic system parameters consistent with LEO satellite operations. Simulations demonstrate that the proposed downlink-aware optimization framework improves the packet delivery ratio from 0.41 (achieved under random scheduling) to 0.96, while reducing the average energy consumption per successful transmission by approximately 55%. These results highlight the efficiency of the proposed NSGA-II-based scheduling approach and provide an initial pattern that points toward potential scalability, compared to conventional non-optimized methods, demonstrating its promise for next-generation satellite-enabled IoT networks.