Recently the availability of innovative and affordable COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) technological solutions
and the ever improving results of microelectronics and microsystems technologies have enabled the design of ever
smaller yet ever more powerful satellites. The emergence of very capable small satellites heralds an era of new
opportunities in the commercial space market. Initially applied only to scientific missions, earth observation and
remote sensing, small satellites are now being deployed to support telecommunications services. This review paper
examines the operational features of small satellites that contribute to their success. An overview of recent advances
and development trends in the field of small satellites is provided, with a special focus on telecommunication aspects
such as the use of higher frequency bands, optical communications, new protocols, and advanced architectures
