The rapid growth of satellite network operators (SNOs) has revolutionized broadband communications, enabling global connectivity and bridging the digital divide. As these networks expand, it is important to evaluate their performance and efficiency. This paper presents the first comprehensive study of SNOs. We take an opportunistic approach and devise a methodology which allows to identify public network measurements performed via SNOs. We apply this methodology to both M-Lab and RIPE public datasets which allowed us to characterize low level performance and footprint of up to 18 SNOs operating in different orbits. Finally, we identify and recruit paid testers on three popular SNOs (Starlink, HughesNet, and ViaSat) to evaluate the performance of popular applications like web browsing and video streaming.

翻译：卫星网络运营商的快速发展彻底改变了宽带通信领域，实现了全球互联互通并缩小了数字鸿沟。随着这些网络的扩张，评估其性能与效率变得至关重要。本文首次对卫星网络运营商进行了全面研究。我们采取机会主义方法，设计了一种能够识别通过卫星网络运营商执行的公共网络测量的技术方案。我们将该方法应用于M-Lab和RIPE公共数据集，从而得以表征多达18个运行于不同轨道的卫星网络运营商的底层性能与覆盖范围。最后，我们甄选并招募付费测试人员，针对三大主流卫星网络运营商（Starlink、HughesNet和ViaSat）进行网络浏览和视频流等常见应用的性能评估。