What Is Satellite Internet – A Complete Guide

Though satellite-based internet connectivity is not new, its adoption by the consumer sector most definitely is. However, you may wonder how satellite internet works and why one may need it in the first place. If you consider the breadth of the operation, it is a technological miracle that can serve the remotest places on our earth. In this guide, I shall provide a complete guide to satellite internet, starting with what it is.

What Is Satellite Internet?

Satellite Internet is an internet service that uses satellites orbiting the Earth to deliver signals to an antenna or dish and then to an internet-enabled device. Unlike conventional internet that uses coaxial/fiber cables, and 4G/5G internet that uses towers, satellite internet allows you to access the Internet from remote areas where these towers/cable infrastructure are not available.

While satellite internet is not as fast as broadband, its almost-global availability makes this Internet service popular in many instances. As I said earlier, satellite internet services used to be so exclusive and complex to set up in the old days. These days, satellite internet service providers like Starlink have brought about massive changes to the market, and other tech giants like Amazon are also planning to enter space.

Satellite internet has become faster and more reliable with the rise of services like Starlink. It is becoming a more viable option for more people who can’t access conventional internet services. Before we delve into a few market-related aspects, let’s see how satellite internet works.

Components of Satellite Internet

As an end user, you can’t tell the difference between satellite internet and conventional internet. Sure, you may not have the highest speeds, but not all wired connections offer that either. Yet, whereas conventional internet services connect your device to the Internet using a super-large network of cables, satellite internet makes use of some unique components. They are:

Internet-enabled Device

This is a device you can connect to the Internet, like your computer or smartphone. This device is connected to a local network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. The local network will then be connected to the Internet via satellite technology.

Modem/Router

This device lets you manage connected devices. It could be a wired or wireless router. As far as your device is concerned, this modem/router provides Internet access. This modem is responsible for converting the signals from the satellite into signals that your devices can understand, whereas the router makes the signals available across the network.

Satellite Dish/Antenna

This part of the relay enables communication between your modem/router and the satellite. The dish will be positioned according to the location of the satellite, and it will send and receive signals from the satellite up above.

Satellite

A satellite is a marvelous piece of equipment that orbits the Earth anywhere between 300 miles and 22,000 miles above the Earth’s surface. This component is the core machinery behind satellite internet and other satellite-based services, including GPS. In the case of satellite internet, the satellite will receive the signals from a dish and forward them to the NOC.

NOC

A Network Operations Center, popularly known as NOC, is the component that connects this system to the Internet. The NOC acts as the link between the entire satellite internet hardware and the Internet. It is what allows the satellite to communicate with the ground that is home to the Internet as we know it.

This five-part relay system powers a satellite internet service.

However, the exact components would vary depending on the ISP and the purpose you use satellite internet for. For instance, depending on the number of clients, you may need a massive satellite dish or something you can easily carry around. Likewise, whereas many old satellite internet service providers use satellites orbiting the Earth 22,000 miles above the surface of the Earth, newer companies like Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper rely on LEO satellites that are placed only 300 miles above the Earth’s surface.

How Does Satellite Internet Work?

Now that you know what components enable a satellite internet system, we will see how satellite internet works. For this illustration, we will take the case of Starlink. Here’s what happens when you try to open any webpage using a satellite Internet connection.

1. You open a web browser on a connected device and type a URL or search term. The request will now be forwarded to the router/modem.
2. The router/modem will convert the request into a form of signal that the satellite dish can understand and interact with.
3. The satellite dish will beam the data to the Starlink satellite, which is in Low Earth Orbit. The dish is positioned correctly so that this transfer is seamless.
4. The satellite will now receive the signal from the dish and relay it to the ground station (NOC), which is equipped with massive antennas/dishes.
5. The NOC plugs the connection to the Internet, and it receives the response from the web server.
6. This response is also beamed until it reaches your device through the satellite dish at the NOC, the satellite, the satellite dish at your place, and the modem/router.

All these different steps take place every single time you try to do something on the Internet. However, the technology has become so fast that everything happens in fractions of a second. As a user, you would not know about these steps at all.

One misconception is that satellite internet is somewhat independent. As it turns out, satellite internet does not work without a ground-based connection, which is done through a Network Operations Center.

Pros and Cons of Satellite Internet

At this point, you probably know how satellite internet works, right? We will now talk about the major pros and cons of using satellite internet.

Pros of Satellite Internet

These advantages of satellite internet continue to attract more users to the tech.

• Almost-Global Availability: The most significant advantage of satellite internet is that you can access the service from anywhere on the globe. So, even if you are at a super-remote location where mobile, fiber, or telephone cannot reach, satellite internet can help you get things done.
• Easy Setup: Because you don’t have to wait for underground infrastructure, the deployment process for satellite internet is quick. You can set up the dish, connect to the service, and start accessing the Internet in under an hour or so.
• Improving Performance: Unlike in the old days, satellite internet services now offer speeds as high as 200 Mbps. This means that you can use satellite internet for most internet-based needs, including 1080p or 4K video streaming.
• Great During Disasters: Many consider satellite internet a better option during disasters when most conventional networks are down. As long as the NOC is safe and working, satellite internet can offer stable service no matter what.
• Unbound by Local Peak Usage: With local Internet connections, you should be worried about peak usage and congestion. However, owing to the growing number of satellites and redundancy options, satellite internet is free from this issue.

Cons of Satellite Internet

Satellite internet is not all rainbows, though. There are some caveats.

• Higher Latency: Because satellite internet relies on long-range wireless data transfer, the Internet connections may have a higher latency. It prevents you from engaging in tasks that require a shorter latency, like gaming.
• Weather Dependency: Though satellite internet offers global access, you may see some performance impact in worse weather conditions. We are used to something called rain fade, which often reduces the speeds to half.
• Costs: Although there are affordable plans for satellite internet, overall costs for setting up and using satellite internet are super-high. So, it is not a great option for those who live in urban areas, where low-cost alternatives are available via fiber or FWA.
• Miscellaneous: There are some concerns over security and privacy as well. For instance, many ISPs in the satellite internet sector do not allow the use of VPNs. Similarly, line-of-sight issues can cause problems, especially when moving around.

Top Satellite Internet Providers

Here are the current top satellite internet providers you can choose from:

Starlink

Though relatively new to the scene, Starlink has taken over the satellite internet space, thanks to its growing number of LEO satellites. It offers coverage across the US and most other parts of the world, but its approval is pending in many countries. As for speeds, Starlink plans can deliver anywhere between 25 Mbps and 220 Mbps. The connection is also noted for its relatively lower latency of 20 to 60ms.

Hughesnet

Hughenet has been in the satellite internet space for a while and is currently covering the United States and the Americas. The company offers plans with speeds as high as 100 Mbps. However, the company is known for the slower speeds it provides after the data cap. Similarly, the latency is in the range of 450 to 700ms, making it a terrible option for gaming.

Viasat

Viasat is another top satellite internet service provider, and it is available in the US and the Americas. It is an old ISP and offers speeds as high as 100 Mbps. However, most users complain about the lower speeds they get in real life from Viasat. The company offers some additional services, like professional home installation, though.

Here’s a quick summary to help you understand better.

Conclusion

From remote cabins to an RV that you take into national parks, multiple instances can benefit from a great satellite internet connection. I love that the setup costs and monthly rentals for these services continue to become more affordable, making sure that everyone can access the Internet regardless of where they are.