Satellite communications (SATCOM) have become a cornerstone of modern connectivity — powering everything from remote enterprise operations and military communications to IoT devices and in-flight Wi-Fi. But despite the promise of global reach, satellite networks come with a unique set of challenges: high latency, variable bandwidth, packet loss, and unpredictable weather conditions.

Without rigorous testing, these factors can seriously impact application performance, reliability, and user experience.

The Growing Importance of SATCOM Testing

The surge in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations, High-Throughput Satellites (HTS), and new satellite-enabled IoT applications means that performance expectations are higher than ever. Businesses, service providers, and government agencies all depend on consistent, high-quality satellite connectivity — whether they’re monitoring offshore rigs, managing critical defence operations, or delivering broadband to underserved areas.

However, testing on live satellite links can cost thousands of pounds per session and often produces inconsistent, non-repeatable results due to constantly changing environmental conditions. To achieve reliable performance insights, engineers need a controlled, repeatable, and affordable way to emulate satellite conditions in the lab.

Bring the Satellite Network into the Lab

The Netropy Satcom Tester provides a complete end-to-end testing environment that replicates the dynamic characteristics of real satellite networks — including latency, jitter, packet loss, bandwidth constraints, and even weather-related disruptions.

It allows teams to validate, benchmark, and optimise satellite systems and devices such as:

• Satellite modems and VSATs
• TCP Performance Enhancing Proxies (PEPs) and SD-WAN gateways
• QoS policies and traffic prioritisation mechanisms
• End-to-end SATCOM systems connecting ground stations, satellites, and terminals

By testing in a controlled environment, organisations can eliminate expensive live-link testing, replicate exact conditions, and reproduce results consistently — dramatically reducing cost and risk.

Key Capabilities of Netropy Satcom Tester

Accurate Network Emulation
Emulate real-world satellite conditions including variable latency, jitter, packet loss, and bandwidth constraints to assess system resilience.

Benchmark Device and Application Performance
Generate large-scale traffic flows to measure throughput, latency, and packet loss under controlled scenarios.

Validate Quality of Service (QoS)
Stress-test prioritisation policies using Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) and Type of Service (ToS) markings to ensure mission-critical traffic gets the bandwidth it needs.

Support for LEO, MEO, and GEO Networks
Model link conditions across multiple orbit types to understand how your systems will behave in different satellite environments.

Powerful Automation and Ease of Use
A browser-based GUI and RESTful API integration make it simple to create repeatable test scenarios, accelerate development, and streamline regression testing.

How SATCOM Testing Supports Business Goals

Investing in effective satellite network testing delivers measurable business value:

• Reduce operational costs — Avoid costly live satellite testing and on-site troubleshooting.
• Improve reliability — Detect and fix issues before deployment.
• Enhance user experience — Ensure seamless performance for critical applications.
• Accelerate innovation — Shorten development cycles and reduce time-to-market.
• Strengthen resilience — Validate performance under stress to maintain mission continuity.

By integrating the Netropy Satcom Tester into your development or QA process, you can de-risk satellite deployments, optimise application performance, and deliver consistent service quality even in harsh or remote environments.

Best Practices for Measuring Application Performance Over Satellite Networks

To gain an accurate view of real-world performance, testing must be comprehensive, repeatable, and application-centric. Best practices include:

• Test both individual components and full end-to-end systems.
• Measure throughput, latency, jitter, and packet loss under varying environmental conditions.
• Validate Quality of Service (QoS) to ensure high-priority traffic is handled correctly.
• Use WAN emulation to replicate live-link behaviour (including rain fade and congestion) in the lab.
• Benchmark PEPs and TCP proxies to confirm they’re improving performance as expected.

For an in-depth guide to satellite testing methodologies, download Apposite’s free whitepaper ‘Best Practices for Measuring Application Performance over Satellite Networks’.

Summary

Satellite networks are becoming increasingly central to modern communications, but their complexity demands careful preparation and validation. Tools like the Netropy Satcom Tester make it possible to understand how applications and systems will behave before they are deployed, helping engineers and project teams make informed design and configuration decisions. By taking a methodical approach to testing and performance optimisation, organisations can build more resilient and reliable satellite networks that meet the demands of today’s connected world.

Learn more and request a demo: https://www.openreality.co.uk/product/netropy-satcom-tester/