Fault-Tolerant Spectrum Usage Consensus for Low-Earth-Orbit Satellite Constellations

Low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite networks, or megaconstellations, must share spectrum under current regulations. A consensus mechanism is proposed to facilitate accountable spectrum sharing among multiple network operators, some of whom may be adversarial. A distributed ledger is utilized to securely record and track the state of consensus on spectrum usage, interference incidents, and associated responsible parties. Variability in operators’ analog measurements due to noise is recognized as a primary challenge. An approximate Byzantine fault-tolerant (BFT) agreement model is adopted to address this issue. Practical considerations of BFT agreements are accounted for, with feasibility substantiated by numerical findings within the context of LEO satellite networks.