Tracing Three Decades of Low Earth Orbit Satellite Communication Development: A Bibliometric and Main Path Analysis of Network Architectures, Protocol Evolution, and Emerging Intelligent Services

ABSTRACT Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communication systems have evolved into a critical component of global broadband networks, enabling wide‐area connectivity, IoT services, and intelligent multilayer satellite–terrestrial integration. Despite rapid advancements in constellation deployment, routing mechanisms, resource management, and LEO–5G/6G convergence, the long‐term evolution of research themes and network architectures remains insufficiently mapped. This study analyzes 2420 Web of Science articles published between 1995 and 2025 and applies bibliometric techniques, main path analysis, and edge‐betweenness clustering to identify the core technological trajectories shaping the LEO communication domain. The results reveal five major phases of development: foundational constellation design, multilayer architecture integration, performance and QoS optimization, 6G‐driven intelligent connectivity, and secure collaborative networking. Four dominant research clusters emerge: communication and IoT applications, routing and topology management, satellite edge computing and task offloading, and LEO‐enhanced GNSS positioning, highlighting the field's structural diversification. Main path and key‐route analyses further show a gradual shift from traditional connectivity‐oriented engineering toward distributed, AI‐enabled, and security‐aware satellite communication frameworks. This study provides the first longitudinal mapping of LEO communication research, offering an integrated understanding of how architectural evolution, protocol innovation, and emerging intelligent services intersect. The findings support future advances in satellite networking, resource optimization, and the design of resilient and interoperable LEO systems.