From outer space to your router: Here is how the Internet is done via satellite

While it is not at all fastest The type of internet connectionThe satellite Internet is the only type of connection available in all fifty states, which makes it a great competitor rural Families with limited internet options.

Despite the popularity StarlinkAnd the growing power of it 7000 satellitesThe Internet is seen as the last resort for home internet. So what makes Satellite Internet Very great? What should you consider before registration? Let’s take a closer look at how the internet works via satellite – and what can be expected from the major competitors in this industry.

Read more: The best Internet service providers for 2025: cable against fibers against satellites and more

How does the Internet work on the Internet?

Like satellite TV, satellite dishes receive radio waves that are transmitted from satellites in a low or high -Earth orbit. Internet service providers use data centers connected to the Internet to convert information to the recipient dish.

To work effectively, the dish should be placed in a clear vision line. You will connect a modem to this dish to translate the mentioned signal to a practical internet connection. In addition to electricity to keep the recipient’s dish supported (and again, a clear vision of the sky), this is all you really need for the satellite Internet to work.

Satellite Internet does not depend on cable, fiber or phone lines. Earth technologies like those are not well developed in rural areas because the lack of population density means that the Internet service providers should spend more to cover the growing land to bring the same number of families online. The satellite Internet avoids this problem by skipping the infrastructure entirely on Earth, making the satellite Internet a suitable option to connect to the Internet.

The launch of satellites to the space is costly, but once a sufficient network is available, Companies can provide broad range Internet satellite for customers on a wide area of ​​the planet, even in beautiful remote places.

Who is currently providing the Internet via satellite?

The best satellite Internet service providers in the country Viasatand Hyuznit and Starlink. Viasat and Hughesnet have been in satellite -based communications for contracts. While Starlink is the new relative expatriate of this industry, it has become a strong competitor in recent years, thanks to a large extent. Rapid satellite publishingFaster speeds, low transition time and Internet dish online.

To keep pace with the competition, Hughesnet launched Jupiter 3 Satellite in 2023, one of the largest satellites for commercial communications created, which allows improving download speeds of up to 100 Mbps of Internet customers. Meanwhile, Viasat has begun to present a download plan for up to 150 megabytes per second, but this speed is not available in all locations.

According to the Owokla Q1 2024 report – The latest report to include satellite internet metrics- Viasat average of 34 MB at download speeds, with Hughesnet only 15 MP. (OKla is owned by the mother company itself as CNET and ZifF Davis.)

Starlink already includes more than 7000 satellite in orbit and arrives Millions of customers in the United States and beyond. Although Starlink plans do not become cheap (starting from $ 120 per month in addition to $ 349 for equipment), the network is at faster speeds and less anxiety than we have traditionally expected from the Internet online.

However, there may be new competition in the industry soon, as the Amazon Kuper project is scheduled to be available in 2025, according to what he said Company website. In July 2020, the Federal Communications Committee agreed to publish the Kuper project fromThousands of satellites for low -Earth orbit To create a wide -based wide -based domain service. It is planned for up to 83 Satial launch operations During the next five yearsSo keep the updates.

Where is the Internet available on the Internet?

Due to the spread of the harmonious satellites of those cross lines, most regions of the United States can receive Internet satellite signals. For example, Hughesnet and Starlink provides services in all fifty states. Viasat provides almost complete coverage in the United States, with the exception AlaskaWhere the service is available only in certain areas.

Some Internet companies explore the satellite coverage in other parts of the world and try new publishing methods, such as using Society hot points Instead of residential dishes and communications. Starlink mobile plate, Starlink MiniMore expansion of the internet range to rural areas and travelers.

How do you compare the satellite to other types of internet connections?

While the recent developments on the Internet helped online StripIt is still more expensive than most Other common media for the Internet. In most cases, other options will provide better speeds with lower cumin.

For example, DSL and Internet cable Very common, with DSL download speeds range from 3 to 140 Megabits in the second The cable usually provides anywhere from 10 to 2000 megabytes per second, depending on your plan. The satellite internet comes generally on 12 to 200 megabytes per second, although the Starlink ELONONK promised speeds up to up to up 300 megabytes per second Even 2000 megabytes per second It will be possible.

Internet fiberWhich uses optical fiber cables, they can provide fast red download speeds of up to 5 or even 10GB (5000 or 10,000 Mbps). Using fiber, your downloads will usually be faster than downloads, and this is not the case with cable, DSL or satellite. Fiber cable fixation is costly, and publishing operations are not costly in areas with low population density, so there is nothing if the fiber will become an applicable option in most rural America.

However, the Internet via satellite provides the highest MBS cost – An approximate value index with home internet plans- of any type of internet connection due to a relatively slow speed speed and high monthly costs.

Here is a quick group of positives and negatives of satellite communication

Positives

• Waiting for a wide range of internet in your area may take a long time, and satellite Internet is now available.
• Satellite Internet is relatively easy to use: Look for a company you offer, rent a reception dish or buy it in advance and subscribe to the appropriate plan to meet your needs.
• Large companies such as Spacex and Amazon bring a new competition in the Internet market via satellite, which means better and long -term speeds.

cons

• It is usually more expensive than other forms of internet, with the possibility of sharp costs provided to your recipient dish. the The cost per mg per second It is usually high with satellite internet.
• With many satellites in orbit far from Earth, Higher access time It is a common problem with satellite internet. Your traffic will need a few additional moments to replace the external space.
• The satellite internet can be difficult if there is no clear connection with the Kokalian general expenses. For example, satellite dishes should be well aligned with a “clear vision of the southern sky,” says Hugness. Snow accumulation or other types of bad weather It can create Spottines or even interruption.

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