Test Your Connection
Speed Now
Home > Satellite

The High-Speed Internet Satellite Solution

The Satellite Solution

Finally there is a way for people who live in rural areas to receive a high-speed Internet connection.  Of course, broadband satellite Internet connections have existed for a few years, but now subscribers have better access to it and more options for providers than ever before.

Broadband satellite is technically a type of broadband Internet connection, even though it’s very different than either DSL or cable.  It is considered “broadband” because of the amount of data it carries in the time it takes to carry it - so basically lots of data in a relatively short period of time.


To read more about how Satellite Broadband works, check out our article Inside the World of Satellite Broadband.

How Broadband Satellite Works

Like all Internet connections, broadband satellite starts with the provider.  The provider has a central office on land and a satellite orbiting Earth’s atmosphere.  When data is requested or sent, it is transmitted through that office.  However, before it gets to your house, it must be sent to the satellite, which acts as a middle-man between you and the central office.

In order for you to send or receive data through the satellite, you must first have a satellite dish on the outside of your home or office building.  It is through this device that all information is transferred.

Who Subscribes to Satellite?

Usually, if someone interested in broadband Internet can get cable or DSL, they will.  However, many homes and sometimes businesses are still unable to receive either of those services because they are outside of the nearest providers’ coverage area.

For everyone in this category, satellite is the next best choice.  It normally doesn’t matter where you live, because your satellite dish is designed to pick up the signal from the provider.  This makes it an ideal way to connect to the Internet for rural subscribers.

Broadband Satellite Pros and Cons

As technology evolves, so will the satellite Internet connection.  While it is a great choice for many subscribers, it still has its pitfalls.  Some things to keep in mind about your high-speed satellite connection:

  • Installation and monthly service fees will be more costly than its broadband brothers DSL and cable.
  • Heavy wind and rain can degrade the quality of your connection.
  • Broadband satellite is not as fast as DSL or cable, but significantly faster than dial-up.

Despite these inconveniences, there are things you can do to help your satellite Internet connection along.  For example, you can purchase a signal amplifier to help make the connection stronger and more resistant to outside disturbances.  Also available are signal locators, which help find the signal for the times when getting a connection is difficult.

You can find more information on how to optimize your broadband satellite connection by going to satellite accessories.

Related Articles: