Visat is Satellite Internet, a type of internet connection that uses satellite technology to deliver internet access to users. This service is particularly beneficial in rural or remote areas where traditional broadband connections like DSL, cable, or fiber-optic are not available or feasible to install. Here's how it works:
How Satellite Internet Works:
Transmission of Signals: The internet data is transmitted via a satellite in Earth's orbit. When you request a webpage, for instance, the signal travels from your computer (or another device) through a modem to a satellite dish installed at your location.
Satellite Communication: The dish sends the signal up to a satellite in geostationary orbit, approximately 22,236 miles (about 35,786 kilometers) above the Earth's equator. This satellite receives the signal and sends it to a ground station (also known as a gateway).
Internet Access: The ground station connects to the internet and fetches the webpage or data you requested. It then sends this data back through the satellite to your satellite dish and then to your modem, allowing you to access the information on your device.
Low Earth Orbit LEO and Geostationary Orbit GEO Satellites
The primary difference between Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet service and traditional satellite internet, which relies on satellites in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), lies in their orbital positions and the implications of these positions on service quality, speed, and latency. Here's a detailed comparison:
Orbital Distance
- LEO Satellites: Operate in Low Earth Orbit, typically ranging from about 180 to 2,000 kilometers (about 112 to 1,242 miles) above the Earth. This closer proximity to the Earth's surface allows for faster data transmission times.
- GEO Satellites: Positioned in Geostationary Earth Orbit, approximately 35,786 kilometers (about 22,236 miles) above the equator. This higher orbit allows a satellite to match the Earth's rotation, effectively staying in the same spot relative to the surface, which is advantageous for consistent communication links.
Latency
- LEO Satellites: Offer significantly lower latency compared to GEO satellites because the data has a much shorter distance to travel. Latency can be as low as 20-40 milliseconds, similar to or better than terrestrial broadband services.
- GEO Satellites: Have higher latency, typically around 600-800 milliseconds, due to the greater distance the signals must travel. This can affect the performance of real-time applications, such as video calls and online gaming.
Speed
- LEO Satellites: Can provide high-speed internet comparable to fiber-optic and cable networks, thanks to the lower latency and advanced technology used in newer satellite constellations.
- GEO Satellites: While capable of providing broadband speeds, may not consistently match the peak speeds of LEO services or terrestrial broadband, especially under high demand or during peak usage times.
Coverage and Reliability
- LEO Satellites: A constellation of hundreds or thousands of satellites is required to provide continuous coverage, as each satellite only covers a small area for a short time before moving out of range. This massive network ensures widespread coverage, including remote and rural areas.
- GEO Satellites: A single GEO satellite can cover a vast area of the Earth's surface, making it easier to provide service to large, geographically dispersed regions. However, service can be more susceptible to interruptions from weather and physical obstructions due to the signal's longer path through the atmosphere.
LEO satellite internet services offer advantages in terms of lower latency and potentially higher speeds, making them more comparable to terrestrial broadband services. In contrast, traditional GEO satellite services provide wide coverage with a smaller number of satellites but at the cost of higher latency and potentially lower speed during peak times although a new plan from Viasat removes limits on high-speed data.
Far from being out of date, satellite internet is potentially the best-positioned technology to connect literally billions of people world-wide to the internet. It does not have the issues that other connections types have based on geographical terrain and local infrastructure. The competitive landscape in satellite internet has increased to include Viasat, OneWeb, HughesNet, Frontier, Starlink, Amazon (coming soon) and others. Stay tuned for the latest developments in satellite internet service.