Abstract Behavior of the fiber coupling efficiency in non-Kolmogorov satellite links is investigated. Examining the fiber coupling efficiency of downlink versus the non-Kolmogorov power law exponent for different rms wind speeds, zenith angles, receiver lens diameters, structure constants and the wavelengths, the fiber coupling efficiency is found to decrease when the non-Kolmogorov power law exponent increases. At a fixed non-Kolmogorov power law exponent, the fiber coupling efficiency of downlink is found to decrease as the rms wind speed, the zenith angle, the receiver lens diameter or the structure constant increases and the wavelength decreases. For any non-Kolmogorov satellite downlink, the reduction of coherence length will make the optimum design parameter larger. And when the fiber coupling efficiency is considered in the satellite uplinks, the effect of non-Kolmogorov turbulence can be neglected.