It's a truism in technology that every solution presents an equal and opposite problem.
Satellite systems are no exception.
If LEOs live up to their promise, they'll certainly win in the end, but right now there are enough d oubts and trade-offs to make GEOs a sound business strategy. While Pioneer Consulting's Scott Clavenna predicts the launch of 350 broadband LEOs by the year 2010, he also envisions 144 broadband GEOs. That's a strong showing, given that worldwide coverage with LEOs requires about 48 birds and GEOs need only eight. Although rather rare, broadband MEOs may offer a way to reduce latency without paying the price of a full LEO constellation. Getting a satellite into a GEO orbit is typically more difficult and expensive than launching smaller, lighter and more easily manufactured LEOs into a lower orbit.