Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) refers to a satellite which orbits the earth at an altitude below 22,300 miles (geostationary orbit) and above the altitude of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.

Medium Earth Orbit represents a series of tradeoffs between geostationary orbit (GEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Medium Earth Orbit enables a satellite provider to cover the earth with fewer satellites than Low Earth Orbit, but requires more satellites to do so that geostationary orbit.

Medium Earth Orbit terrestrial terminals can be of lower power and use smaller antennas than the terrestrial terminals of geostationary orbit satellite systems. However, they cannot be as low power or have as small antennas as Low Earth Orbit terrestrial terminals.

Medium Earth Orbit satellite systems offer better Round Trip Time (RTT) than geosynchronous orbit systems, but not as low as Low Earth Orbit systems.