SATELLITE INTERNET: A DETAILED BREAKDOWN.
In April last year, Jeff Bezos’s Amazon entered the satellite internet race after finalizing what can be termed as the biggest ever deal in the history of private space launches. The Kuiper Project, yup that’s the name the geniuses at Amazon came up with, plans to launch upwards of three thousand satellites in space and wants to establish itself as a direct competitor to Elon Musk’s Starlink in the next few years.
In short, the space internet race is heating up. But the fact that billionaire space barons like Musk and Bezos have recently decided to enter the satellite internet industry does not mean that sat based internet is a new phenomenon.
Satellite-based internet technology has been around since the beginning of 21st century. Several companies have been providing high-speed satellite broadband connections to Americans for over a decade now.
But despite the technology being around for so long there are still countless confusions and perceived mysteries around the idea of a ‘space internet’.
So, what actually is satellite internet and how does it compare to more mainstream terrestrial internet technologies readily available to consumers. This article aims to answer this question and much more.
So, without further ado let’s jump in.
WHAT IS SATELLITE INTERNET
Any internet connection powered by a satellite or a constellation of such satellites can be termed a satellite internet connection. Simple enough right? But how does it work?
The satellite beams the internet signal to a dish installed on your home’s roof or a pole near your home. The dish is mounted up high so that it has a clear view of the satellite. This dish is then connected to a router fixed inside your home using a coaxial cable. Your devices connect to this router using Wi-Fi or an ethernet cable. And that’s about it.
TYPES OF SATELLITE INTERNET CONNECTIONS
There are two distinct types of satellite internet technologies offered to residential consumers in the U.S. namely Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary Equatorial Orbit (GEO) satellites. Both these technologies have their own unique advantages and disadvantages.
Here’s a breakdown.
LEO SATELLITES
As the name suggests these satellites are launched closer to the Earth’s surface. They normally work as groups known as constellations. Because they are closer to the surface of the Earth LEO satellites offer lower latency which practically translates into higher internet speeds for consumers.
The problem is that these satellites need to be deployed in the hundreds or even the thousands to effectively offer wide area coverage.
Mr. Musk’s Starlink and Mr. Bezos’s Kuiper are two popular examples of LEO satellite-based internet services.
GEO SATELLITES
GEO satellites are high earth orbit satellites. They orbit the Earth from quite a distance. Being further away means that even a single satellite (or maybe two) can offer virtually global internet coverage. Which means that they do not need to be deployed in bulk.
But no technology is perfect. Being farther away from the earth means that the signal from your dish takes much longer to reach the satellite and back. As a result, GEO satellite internet has a very high latency rate and is not suited to latency-sensitive activities like last-minute eBay bids and multiplayer online gaming.
Hughesnet, the largest and perhaps the oldest, satellite ISP in the U.S. uses GEO sat technology for its services.
COMPARING SATELLITE INTERNET WITH ITS TERRESTRIAL COUNTERPARTS
Now that we have a pretty comprehensive behind-the-scenes understanding of what satellite internet is and how it works let’s look at how it compares to the more widely available cable and fiber alternatives.
ACCESSIBILITY
Accessibility is the biggest plus of sat-based ISPs. Satellite internet does not need dedicated infrastructure for different locations. A single satellite or constellation of satellites is enough to provide worldwide coverage.
On the other hand, terrestrial services (both cable and fiber) need to set up physical infrastructure to provide access to newer areas. As a result, terrestrial services do not normally cover more remote or sparsely populated areas.
In short, if your home is in the mountains opt for a sat-based connection.
SPEED
Terrestrial services are exponentially faster as compared to their space-based alternatives. Sat internet signals have to travel large distances in space before they can reach your router. Bigger distances translate into more time delays which contribute to higher latency rates, reducing the overall internet speed.
Terrestrial internets especially fiber ones are ridiculously fast. So, while most sat ISPs in the U.S. average at about 25-100 Mbps fiber optics can relay download speeds ranging in the thousands.
So, if you spend most of your free time binge-playing multiplayer games do not opt for a satellite connection.
PRICE
Well, this is a no-brainer. Satellite internet is much more expensive with plans ranging from 50 to 100 USD a month. But then again if you reside in a remote area getting a fiber optic connection can cost a fortune in installation fees. So, it depends on where you live.
Urban dwellers find terrestrial internet to be cheaper while rural/remote area residents would find sat-based connections to be more cost-effective.
WRAP-UP
Satellite internet is the buzzword of our decade. And while the increased connectivity and wider coverage offered by this new technology is something that will benefit users for years to come, currently, these space connections are slower and pricier when compared to other more mainstream fiber and cable-based alternatives.
REFERENCES
https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/internet/what-is-satellite-internet/
https://www.satelliteinternet.com/resources/satellite-internet-vs-cable-internet/