Satellite internet offers high-speed data service from a geostationary satellite located at a distance of 22,300 miles above the equator of the earth. This service enables the users to transmit and receive data from a dish via a location on Earth called the Network Operations Center (NOC). The NOC will be connected to the internet and all communications from the satellite dish at the user side to the geostationary satellite will flow through them, before reaching the internet.
2. »Satellite internet offers high-speed data service from a
geostationary satellite located at a distance of 22,300 miles above
the equator of the earth. This service enables the users to transmit
and receive data from a dish via a location on Earth called the
Network Operations Center (NOC). The NOC will be connected to
the internet and all communications from the satellite dish at the
user side to the geostationary satellite will flow through them,
before reaching the internet.
3. From the standpoint of satellite internet users, the transfer of data
through the satellite is not much different from that used by a land
based internet provider. The important point to keep in mind is that
once the technician configures the system and its connections, the
satellite internet service acts almost the same as any other type of
internet service. Satellite internet service is the only high-speed
internet option available for millions of Americans living in rural parts
of the country.
4.
5. »Improvements in satellite internet technology and the
rapid increase in competition have led to the introduction
of more reliable and better satellite internet services.
Many of the internet service providers in the country
offer satellite internet packages that provide speeds
comparable to those offered via DSL and cable.
6.
7. In addition, innovations and technologies in satellite internet
services have resulted in a steep decline in the cost of data
accessible per GB. The below graph will better illustrate the
changes in the cost per GB over the years. Experts in
telecommunications say that this will rapidly decrease in the
coming years also.
8. Working of Satellite Internet
As said above, satellite internet service makes use of geostationary
satellites rather than cable or telephone lines to transmit and receive data.
These satellites will remain fixed relative to a location on the Earth as the
revolution velocity of the satellite matches with the speed of revolution of
the Earth. These satellites offer two-way data communication between the
small dish antennas mounted on the home of the user and the NOC hub of
the internet service provider.
9. When the user accesses a website, a request is sent from the user’s computer to
the satellite via the dish. The satellite upon receiving retransmits this request to the
service hub (NOC) of the provider, which is connected to the internet. The details of
the website requested by the user will be beamed back to the satellite by the NOC
from where the data will be sent to the dish antenna of the user. The modem
connected to the dish will translate the data and the website will load on the user’s
computer. The internet signal will have to travel enormous distances back and forth
but will take only a few seconds for the complete process to happen.
10. » Users will be able to connect all the internet-enabled devices in
their home to the World Wide Web by making use of satellite
internet. In addition to having the necessary equipment, a clear
view of the sky is also required to get uninterrupted satellite
internet. This is because the dish will need a clear line of sight
to the satellite for proper transmission and reception of the
signal. This means that extreme weather may affect the service
in rare situations.
11. »Benefits of Satellite Internet
»Satellite internet can be the fitting option for remote, rural,
and isolated areas that do not have access to any other
internet service options. None of the businesses can afford to
remain disconnected from the internet these days and
satellite internet offers an excellent way for them to access
the high-speed internet at virtually any location. Besides,
satellite internet offers the users with many benefits over
other internet options like cable and DSL.
12. »Global Coverage
»One of the important benefits of satellite internet service is its
extensive coverage of any location on Earth. A single
geostationary satellite can be used to offer coverage across
continents. This wide area coverage of the service makes it the
best option for remote and underserved locations. A clearer line of
sight view of the geostationary satellite, communications
equipment, and a power supply is all that is required to establish a
successful satellite internet connection
13. »High-Speed Access
»Speed is another important benefit of opting satellite internet. Most
of the satellite internet providers operating in the country can offer
speeds that are much faster than many of the terrestrial internet
options available. If only limited internet options like dial-up and
slow DSL are available in an area, satellite internet will be the best
option, as it will offer high-speed internet access
14. Cost Effective
Studies show that it will cost between 10,000 and 100,000 dollars to
lay a mile of optical fiber cable in an underserved location. Apart from
the high investments, it will take many months to finish the deployment
of the fiber completely to make the service available to different
locations. If reliable terrestrial connectivity is not present, then satellite
internet will be the most cost effective way to provide high-speed
internet service in an area.
15. Reliability
As the satellite internet only consists of a satellite, NOC, and receiving
dish, chances of network outages will be very low. When compared to
terrestrial internet options, the chances of outages are very limited. In
case of terrestrial internet services, network outage can happen at any
point in the infrastructure that can hinder the connectivity. A satellite
internet service can work independently of any terrestrial infrastructure to
offer connectivity as long as power is supplied to the equipment.
16. »Bandwidth Availability
»Telecom experts say that the geostationary orbit can have
about one hundred and eighty ‘parking spots’ for
accommodating different satellites. Even though there are
only limited parking spots for the geostationary satellites,
many satellite service providers can offer gigabit speeds
across the entire continent. This bandwidth will be available
throughout the footprint of the satellite that is offering high-
speed internet access at any area
17. Easy and Quick Installation
»Installation of the service just needs a satellite dish, modem,
and power supply and can be finished quickly, as there is no
need to lay down cables or any other network infrastructure.
After the user signs up for the satellite internet service, the
provider can send their technicians who can finish the
installation in just a matter of hours.
18. »Satellite Internet Equipment and Setup
»There are three main components of a satellite internet service, a
geostationary satellite located in orbit around the Earth, a satellite dish
mounted on the user’s home, and a modem to translate the signals from the
dish to the computer and vice versa. When users sign up for a satellite internet
service, they will receive a satellite dish and the modem. Some of the service
providers cover the equipment cost and installation charges when users sign
up for long-term contracts, while the others may charge an activation and
installation fee separately.
19. To set up a satellite internet connection, the following
equipment is required:
VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) dish
Transceiver
Modem
The equipments needed on the side of the satellite
internet service provider are:
GEO (Geosynchronous Earth Orbit) satellite
Gateway and earth stations
Network Operations Center (NOC)
20. »Satellite internet
»service might not be the fastest internet connectivity option in the
world. However, it is capable of offering data speeds that are ten times
faster than the normal dial up connections available in a region.
Moreover, satellite internet can be a great way to offer high-speed
internet to the rural areas of the country.