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Satellite broadband is an internet service that uses a satellite dish to provide connectivity, offering speeds similar to other broadband technologies. It is a good option for those in rural areas where DSL or cable services are not available, but it can be more expensive and affected by weather conditions and high latency. The installation and monthly subscription fees are also higher than DSL or cable services, but prices are decreasing over time.
Satellite broadband is Internet connectivity provided by satellite, rather than dial-up, DSL (digital subscriber line) or cable service. It is connected to a satellite dish subscription service and provides similar speeds to other broadband technologies.
Broadband service is the best way to connect to the internet. Unfortunately, not everyone can get DSL or cable service, particularly in rural areas. To be eligible for DSL, the subscriber must be within 18,000 feet (5,486.4 meters) of the phone center, although some telecommunications companies allow greater distances. Cable TV companies offer Internet services, but even that doesn’t cover all areas.
For those excluded, satellite broadband may be the answer. The Internet feed is transmitted by satellite to a satellite dish installed in the subscriber’s home. This type of broadband can provide speeds of 2 megabits per second (mbps) downstream and 1 mbps upstream. Compare this to dial-up service which reaches about 53 kilobits per second. It’s about 39 times slower than satellite broadband.
Like any technology, satellite broadband also has its drawbacks. It’s more expensive to set up than DSL or cable, and weather conditions can affect the signal. Another drawback is signal delay, known as high latency.
Each time a subscriber sends a command to retrieve a web page, the request must travel 22,300 miles (35,888 km) to a satellite in geostationary orbit. From there, the signal travels another 22,300 miles to Earth, to the satellite provider, where it’s routed over the Internet, data is exchanged, and then sent to the satellite the 22,300 miles. Once the satellite receives the information, the page data must travel the final 22,300 miles to the user. The subscriber pays for that 89,200-mile (143,553 km) round trip for each request in delayed milliseconds. Some sources indicate that the average latency is 500-700ms. This inevitable “lag” makes satellite broadband a poor choice for activities such as multiplayer online gaming.
While this technology is much faster than dial-up, it is still one of the slowest broadband technologies. Slower DSL service is equivalent to satellite broadband, minus the high latency, and faster DSL can achieve much higher speeds. Cable is also a faster technology, although cable speeds can be affected by local traffic loads.
In the United States the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires professional installation of a broadband satellite dish, which can make it an expensive several hundred dollar affair. Monthly subscription fees have also traditionally been higher than DSL or cable Internet services. However, the prices are decreasing with time.
