Why downlink data rate is higher than uplink?

Answer: Uplink frequency is kept higher than Downlink frequency for the following reasons: At higher frequency attenuation is more hence more power will be required for signal transmission to ensure that it reaches the destination with the required minimum power .

It say basically the power at ground stations is more as compared to power available at satellites.So generally frequency for uplink is kept higher than the downlink . There is greater attenuation due to rain when the signal frequency is high.so downlink is also kept at lower frequency.

In satellite telecommunication, a downlink is the link from a satellite down to one or more ground stations or receivers, and an uplink is the link from a ground station up to a satellite .

The allowable pathloss for Downlink is more compared to that of the Uplink. (Because UE TX power is limited and NodeB power is much higher ). Hence the data rate in the downlink is higher compared to that in the uplink.