## 1 Introduction
### Related Work  
Various satellite-based solutions have been developed to tackle the challenges of establishing reliable communication networks in remote and harsh environments, such as the Arctic. For instance, [PERSON]'s study [31] proposed a satellite-enabled Internet of Remote Things (IoRT) network utilizing the Xingyun satellite constellation to retrieve environmental data from isolated regions of the Tibetan Plateau. This system relied on ground IoT terminals equipped with environmental sensors and satellite transceivers for autonomous data transmission to remote data centers. While effective for real-time environmental monitoring with minimal delays and acceptable packet loss rates, this approach primarily focused on environmental data transmission and did not address the limitations of low-cost, small-scale communication for general-purpose applications in regions with minimal infrastructure.  
[PERSON] [32] highlighted the \"Arctic Digital Divide\", emphasizing the critical lack of telecommunications infrastructure in the Arctic due to its geographical isolation and harsh weather conditions. While satellite communication systems were proposed as a solution to bridge this gap, these systems primarily concentrated on large-scale broadband services and emergency response applications, leaving small-scale, cost-efficient communication needs underserved.  
[PERSON] and [PERSON] [24] proposed deploying small satellites in freely drifting swarms to establish the \"Internet of Arctic Things\". This system aimed to create persistent and reliable communication for IoT devices across the Arctic, enabling environmental monitoring in previously inaccessible areas. Although innovative, this solution focuses on IoT-based environmental applications and requires a complex satellite swarm infrastructure, which may not be practical for simpler, lightweight communication tasks.  
Similarly, the MARIOT initiative [33] focuses on enhancing maritime safety in the Arctic through a network of low Earth orbit satellites using the VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) standard. While this initiative demonstrates the utility of satellite constellations for maritime IoT applications, its primary goal is to improve navigation and communication for ships, with little emphasis on small-scale or ground-based communication needs.  
These studies collectively underscore the importance of satellite-based communication systems in addressing connectivity challenges in remote and harsh environments. However, existing solutions often target large-scale, application-specific networks or require significant infrastructure investments, leaving a gap for lightweight, cost-effective, and versatile communication systems suitable for general-purpose small-scale data transmission in remote regions.  
In this work, we aim to address this gap by leveraging SWARM Technologies' Eval Kits systems integrated with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to establish a low-cost satellite-based communication solution. Unlike in previous studies, our approach focuses on small-scale data transmission (e.g., simple messages of up to 192 bytes) that does not rely on broadbandor IoT-specific infrastructures. By utilizing SWARM's low Earth orbit satellites, we seek to explore whether this method can provide reliable connectivity in the Arctic, particularly for general-purpose applications. Through experimental testing, we aim to assess signal transfer quality and transmission times, hypothesizing that northern regions of Canada will demonstrate optimal performance, with message transfer times as low as 3 min for simple communications.  
By addressing these specific challenges, our research aims to contribute a practical, accessible, and cost-effective solution to data transmission issues in remote regions, bridging a critical gap left by existing satellite-based systems.