  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.
