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e see an ever-increas-
ing need for digital
solutions – not just
"Wsince the pandemic,
but surely further accelerated by it," stated
Dagmar Joswig, Vice President of Digi-
talisation and Corporate IT Office at DHL
Group, in a DHL blog.
Many industry experts believe that
digitalisation is essential for creating suc-
cessful, visible and transparent supply
chains. Modern supply chain models utilise
advanced transport and warehouse man-
agement systems and IoT-enabled smart
sensors to track goods from raw materials to
delivery. However, a significant challenge is
connectivity. According to a Portugal-based
aviation and aerospace component manu-
facturing company - Connected, 80% of the
Earth's surface still lacks cellular coverage,
leading to visibility gaps.
Connected data also reveals that most of
the world lacks cellular coverage, with 450
million people worldwide lacking mobile
connectivity. An International Telecom-
munication Union (ITU) report shows that
internet penetration is 87% in developed
nations, 47% in developing countries, and
only 19% in the least developed countries.
These numbers clearly indicate the dire
need for an infrastructure that enables a
digital, visible and transparent supply chain
on a global scale.
One way to address this challenge is by
building a physical infrastructure. However,
geographical challenges and the high cost
of laying fibre optic cables make it difficult
to provide widespread broadband access.
On the other hand, LEO satellites can offer
an alternative solution by providing global
coverage and low-latency internet.
Unlike traditional methods, LEO satel-
lites do not require extensive ground
infrastructure. In fact, they are portable and
self-assembled terminals that are enough
to connect to the internet. This makes LEO
technology a viable solution to bridge the
digital divide, ensure connectivity in remote
areas, and maybe even enable bluetooth
connections between earth and space for
enhanced supply chain visibility.

What are LEO satellites?
According to National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA), “Low Earth
orbit (LEO) encompasses Earth-centered
orbits with an altitude of 1,200 miles (2,000

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