Satellite Internet

What is Satellite Internet?

Satellite internet is internet access that comes to your home from a communications satellite in orbit around the Earth. To send and recieved data to the satellite, your location would need a dish antenna and an indoor modem. Your dish antenna uploads and downloads data to the satellite, where the data signal gets amplified and redirected down to a dish antenna located at the satellite internet providers ground station communications hub connected to the backbone infrastructure of the internet.

With recent technology advancements enhancing satellite connection speeds, interest in providing satellite internet has increased with companies like OneWeb and SpaceX getting involved. In the next few years thousands of internet satellites are scheduled to be launched to help provide cost-effective, high-speed satellite internet to under-served areas throughout the world. As the need for high-speed internet access grows, it's highly likely more and more people will access the internet through a satellite internet connection than ever before. One of the pioneers in satellite communication is the Hughes Aircraft Company, founded in 1932 by Howard Hughes. HughesNet still provides broadband satellite internet today.

How Satellite Internet Works:

On the face of it, you get satellite internet via satellites up in the sky. More correctly satellite internet comes from a computer on a network (connected to the world wide web) then down some wires to a satellite antenna which then transmits the signal up to a satellite then down to a terrestrial satellite dish that translates the data which goes to your computer from the satellite modem. That is what happens when you download data. When you upload data, like maybe posting a picture to social media, it goes the other way; from your computer, through the satellite dish to the satellite then to the antenna at the satellite internet service providers location and then connects to the other computers on the internet. Most internet connections like cable or DSL come down wires the whole way from the network to your computer. Satellite signals travel most of the way through the air. You still need a modem in your home to connect to your computer. There will be a cable from the antenna to the modem and then either an ethernet cable or WiFi connection to your computer from the modem.

In a home internet use scenario, it would go something like this. A person sits at their computer and clicks to go to their favorite website. The computer sends that request through the satellite modem to the home mounted satellite dish antenna on the roof and up to the satellite up in space. The satellite is often in geosynchronous orbit around the Earth. That means that it stays in one position in relation to the Earth. The satellite system then forwards the request to the satellite internet service provider’s earth-based Gateway or Network Operations Center (NOC) which retrieves the requested website from the world wide web. The website data travels back through the NOC and up to the satellite, then back down to the internet users computer via the satellite dish on their house. All this happens in a matter of milliseconds.

How Fast is Satellite Internet?

Internet service via satellite offers consumer download speeds up to 100Mbps, and is often a great solution for people who live in rural areas or other locations without access to other forms of internet service. Satellite internet can be fast but it may still take a long time to download things after you first click the download button. There are two major factors affecting download and upload times: distance and speed. It doesn’t matter how fast the internet speed is if it is coming from far away. This is called network lag or latency. Satellite internet has longer lag than most other forms of internet access due to the massive amount of distance between the satellite and the dish antennas. Due to these issues, some internet activities are not optimum for satellite internet. Streaming music, online gaming, using a VPN and video conferencing do not produce optimum results using satellite internet due to high latency. The satellites that SpaceX and OneWeb are planning to launch will be much closer to the Earth than most of the existing internet satellites, which means they'll have less lag. This is called Low Earth Orbit or LEO. SpaceX’s constellation of satellites will be less than 1000 miles from Earth, in contrast to HughesNet satellites that are more than 20,000 miles from Earth.

Satellite Internet Download Speed Examples:

Example Media & File Sizes

5 Mbps

10 Mbps

15 Mbps

30 Mbps

50 Mbps

3 Minute Song - 3 MB

5 Seconds

2.5 Seconds

2 Seconds

1 Second

0.6 Seconds

5 Minute Video - 30 MB

50 Seconds

25 Seconds

20 Seconds

10 Seconds

5 Seconds

10 Hour Audio Book - 125 MB

5 Minutes

2 Minutes

85 Seconds

40 Seconds

20 Seconds

45 Minute TV Show - 200 MB

8 Minutes

4 Minutes

3 Minutes

1 Minute

35 Seconds

90 Minute Movie - 1 GB

30 Minutes

15 Minutes

12 Minutes

5 Minutes

170 Seconds

90 Minutes HD Movie - 4 GB

100 Minutes

55 Minutes

45 Minutes

20 Minutes

12 Minutes

Quick Guide to Satellite Internet VS. Other Types of Internet Service:

Figuring out which service is faster, or "better" depends on the type of internet service being considered, as well as the company offering the service. Different companies offering the same type of service (Satellite, Mobile, Fixed Wireless, etc.) can vary wildly in speed and reliability. Keep this in mind when considering which internet service is best for your household as it's not just the technology type that's important when choosing which internet connection is right for you. This satellite internet versus comparison guide is based on the technology behind the type of internet service being compared, not individual providers offering satellite internet service.

Satellite VS. DSL

Satellite Internet VS. DSL Internet - Satellite offers speeds competitive with DSL, but the lower cost, lower latency, and unlimited data on most DSL plans wins over satellite when consumers have a choice between the two services.

Satellite VS. Fiber

Satellite Internet VS. Fiber Internet - If fiber internet is available, it's easily the better option for internet connectivity with the way the web has evolved and how much data most of us use.

Satellite VS. Mobile

Satellite Internet VS. Mobile Internet - Deciding which service is better for you depends on how you use the internet, which type of mobile network is available in your area, and whether the mobile carriers available to you offer unlimited data plans. If you use the internet for streaming video, making calls, and gaming, unlimited mobile internet with a 4G/LTE speed or faster connection likely is more suitable option. If you're unable to get mobile internet, or live in an area with a mobile carrier who has caps on all their data plans, satellite internet then becomes an option. Keep in mind satellite internet is recommended mainly for using the internet to browse websites, shop online, check email, engage on social media, and the occasional streaming of video.

Satellite VS. Cable

Satellite Internet VS. Cable Internet - In this case, cable easily beats satellite internet due to cost, data caps, latency, and inherent speed limitations of satellite internet.

Satellite VS. Wireless

Satellite Internet VS. Wireless Internet - Both satellite and wireless are more susceptible to potential intermittent connection issues due to inclement weather or objects impeding the line of site needed for the signal to be transmitted and recieved. Between satellite and fixed wireless, wireless is a better option if your internet use revolves around gaming and streaming videos This is especially true if you live in an area with a wireless provider offering unlimited data plans.

Satellite Internet Pros & Cons:

Satellite Internet Advantages and Disadvantages

Satellite Internet Pros

Satellite Internet Cons

+ Satellite internet offers a high speed internet connection in places where no other type of internet connectivity is available.

− Satellite Internet often requires a significant upfront installation and equipment fee.

+ Satellite internet doesn't require you have a telephone line or coax cable to your home.

− Satellite Internet service isn't ideal for gaming or applications requiring low ping times and latency, like VoIP or VPN connections.

+ Satellite internet speeds are much faster than dial-up internet, which is often the only alternative connection available to satellite internet subscribers.

− Satellite internet signals can be osbstructed during inclement weather and storms, or when fog, clouds, or other objects impede signal connectivity.

+ Satellite internet offers high bandwidth throughput, which means your internet connection speed and quality aren't affected during peak-use times of the day when lots of other people are using the network simultaneously.

− Satellite internet plans usually have a bandwidth limitation called a data cap, meaning a subscriber has a certain amount of available bandwidth allotted each billing cycle or month. Users who exceed their bandwidth cap can often experience slower internet speeds until the next monthly billing cycle.

Satellite Internet Service Requirements:

The biggest piece of equipment needed for satellite internet is your dish. This is usually placed outside your house on the roof, on the side of your house, or on a raised post or beam near the house. The dish antenna is installed in the location that best ensures a clear line of sight to the communications satellite. This will all be done by a trained professional during the installation of the satellite equipment. The satellite itself is typically in geostationary orbit around the earth so the dish needs to be pointed at the satellite all the time to pick up the signal. Internet satellites are most often orbiting the Earth over the equator so the satellite dish often will be facing south (if it is in the northern hemisphere). In order for a home to connect to the internet via satellite broadband, the line of sight to the satellite must be clear. Even though you may not be able to see the satellite yourself since it is high in the sky, there needs to be an unobstructed line for the signal to travel. Trees, mountains, buildings and even clouds and rain can hinder the signal.

Satellite Internet Questions & Answers:

Question: Is satellite internet available in my area?

Answer: - Satellite internet is available in most areas of the continental US. In some areas satellites are at their full capacity , which prevents new users from being able to sign up until a subscriber cancels to free up bandwidth, or a new satellite with increased capacity is launched to serve max capacity areas.

Question: What is the typical monthly cost of satellite internet?

Answer: - Satellite internet costs typically range between $50-$300 per month. How much satellite internet costs per month varies based on which plan or speed you choose when you order satellite internet service.

Question: What satellite internet speed do I need?

Answer: - Figuring out what speed of satellite internet service is right for your household depends on how many people will be connecting to the service, as well as what you typically use internet service for. If you have multiple users streaming videos and gaming, then you would need a faster speed to accommodate that sort of bandwidth use versus a household that simply uses the internet to read email or social media.

Question: How fast is satellite internet service?

Answer: - Currently available consumer satellite internet speeds range up to 100 Mbps. Satellite internet speeds vary based on the technology, infrastructure, and signal spectrum being used by each satellite internet company.

Satellite Companies Providing High-Speed Internet:

dishNET	HughesNet
Viasat

How to Find Satellite Internet in Your Zip Code:

Using the “search satellite internet in my zip” tool on this website is the best way to find satellite internet in your neighborhood. Just enter your zip code, select satellite internet and hit submit. You will get a list of satellite internet providers in your area. It will probably include most of the satellite internet providers in the country since by the very nature of satellite internet a provider can provide most of the country with internet access. It's likely there will be more than one satellite company providing high speed internet connection where you live. Once you have the list of satellite internet providers in your area, look through the list to see which internet provider is best for you. There are a lot of things to consider when deciding which satellite broadband provider to choose. Look at the features of the different providers and decide which fit your needs. You should probably make sure you are aware of any extra fees like installation, equipment charges and monthly rental fees. Email, virus protection software and service contracts are also things you might want to consider.

Satellite internet providers often have data or usage caps. Many of these caps are what they call soft caps, where if you go over your limit you aren’t totally cut off from internet service, but your download speed will go down. Often satellite providers are stricter during peak hours of high internet usage so it might be a better idea to do your large file downloads late at night or another off peak time when other satellite users are not using a lot of internet bandwidth.

Satellite Internet Terms & Definitions

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is typically defined as the maximum potential data that can be transferred within a given time. Bandwidth is usually measured in bits per second (bps). This can be expressed as: Kilobits per second (kbps), Megabits per second (Mbps), or Gigabits per second (Gbps).
Bitrate

Bitrate or BPS (bits per second) is a common measurement of bits transmitted or received per second. The higher the BPS, the faster the transmission speed of the data connection.
Broadband

The term broadband refers to high speed internet access that is faster and more reliable than traditional dial-up internet access. DSL, cable, fiber optic, wireless internet and even satellite are exmples of broadband internet transmission technologies.
Mbps

Megabits per second. 1 Mbps = 1024 Kbps.
Connection speed

The term connection speed in the telecom industry typically refers to the speed at which data is transferred between your computer and the internet or network it's connected to. There are two types of connection speeds;download speed, which means the rate data is transferred from the internet to your computer; and upload speed which means the rate data is transferred from your computer to the internet.
Kbps

Kilobits per second. 1 Kbps = 1024 bits per second.
Download

Download typically refers to copying files from the internet or another computer onto your computer, hard drive, or mobile device.
Dynamic IP

Dynamic IP address refers to a temporary form of addressing when connecting to the internet. Having a Dynamic IP address means that each time you connect to the internet, your IP address will differ from what it was previously. When your computer connects to the internet, it's assigned an IP address from a pool of available addresses. When you disconnect from the internet or power down your computer, the dynamic IP address is returned to the dynamic IP address pool. Having a dynamic IP address means that each time your modem or computer connects to the internet, it will automatically be assigned any available IP address from the pool.
Ethernet

Ethernet has become the standard method for connecting computers and equipment in a single location, i.e., a home or business. Ethernet is a "multipoint data communication system with collision detection". Not only does an ethernet connect all the devices, but also allows all of the devices to communicate at once. Most computers and laptops have ethernet connections built into their motherboard, allowing your computer to connect to a router or hub that connects to the internet or network(s).
Upload

Upload, or uploading is sending a file or data from one computer to another.
Static IP

Static IP, or static IP address is an unchanging address everytime you connect to the internet. A static IP address enables a server to host a website or other type of server connection (for example, an email server), since other Internet users and hosts will always know the identity of the hosting computer and will be able to connect to it. If you think of an IP address like a parking space on the web, then a static IP is like having a parking space with your name on it, everyone knows it's your static, unchanging space.
Internet

The Internet is a worldwide system of computer networks - a network of networks in which users at any one computer can, if they have permission, get information from any other computer (and sometimes talk directly to users). The Internet is a public, cooperative, and self-sustaining facility accessible to hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Physically, the Internet uses a portion of the total resources of the currently existing public telecommunication networks.
ISP

ISP is the acronym for internet service provider. Any organization that offers access to the internet.
Modem

modem is short for modulator/demodulator. A device that connects your computer to the Internet, over a phone line. Modems work at different speeds; the faster the speed, the faster that information flows to (and from) your computer. Although you can access the Internet with a modem of any speed, it is desirable to go as fast as possible. A modem's speed is measured in bits per second, or bps.
Satellite

In Aerospace the term satellite refers to a man-made vehicle, machine, object, or equipment launched from earth which orbits the planet. Satellites can be used for communications or data/information collection.
NOC - Network Operations Center

In satellite internet terminology NOC is an acronym for Network Operations Center, also known as an Gateway Earth Station. NOC is a network ground station or hub that is connected to the backbone of the internet, which manages and transports all network services and subscriber internet connectivity to and from the satellite.