A rewriting of the geostationary-broadband concept is also made possible by the small size of a MicroGEO satellite. A single satellite can serve a local area more effectively than covering an entire continent in order to recoup its costs.The software-defined radios used by Astranis' MicroGEO satellites enable the programming of several frequencies post-launch in response to customer demand. The satellites are less than 500 kg in weight. A disadvantage of this design is that a MicroGEO satellite only lasts eight years, which is half as long as a conventional geostationary satellite.