Satellite Internet connection

Once the era in which we connected to Internet through a modem that made a lot of noise and allowed us speeds that seemed high then but that sound ridiculous today, we basically have the dichotomy cable-ADSL. However, it must be taken into account that there are still areas (especially rural) to which it does not reach none of these technologies for various reasons, and in which, even mobile coverage is deficient. What do we do, then, with them?

The most practical and used solution is the Internet connection via satellite (satellite), which works like satellite TV services, facing a parabolic antenna to the sky, specifically so that it receives coverage from a satellite, but that differs from the TV signal in that it is bidirectional

In addition to being the option chosen to offer Internet access service to rural areas, it is also the one used to connect offshore. All cruise ships and ships that offer their passengers an Internet connection use this technology.

This is due to the fact that, on the high seas, the signals from the communications towers do not reach either, which is the system used by cell phones to communicate, contrary to the belief of many people that connect to satellites.

We can even consider the use of a satellite connection in the middle of the city as an alternative to very saturated wired networks (copper or fiber optic cable).

In some cases, the connection by satelite it is an alternative way out in case you encounter problems with your commonly used wired connection.

This is the case of companies that, for their daily work, need constant access to the Internet, so if the connection by ADSL or fiber optic cable fails, enter functioning the satellite (which is by way of backup) to guarantee the continuity of the connection, which can also be always on absorbing a part of the data traffic so that it takes over the rest of the traffic in case of connection failure principal.

To connect to the Internet via satellite we need a special modem (which can be internal or external), a satellite dish, and an LNB (Low Noise Block) or iLNB

iLNB includes modulating equipment for the signal from the satellite for conducting it to the computer or device.

Although initially, the technology used in this type of connection did not allow a velocity very high, currently the speeds are quite on par with those offered by the rest of the wired connections.

This has allowed the emergence of companies dedicated to offering the satellite connection service to conventional users who reside mainly in areas that are not covered by Internet conventional for prices very similar or identical to those offered by conventional operators for an ADSL or cable connection.

In some countries, these accesses are even subsidized by the government to reduce digital divide existing between places where it reaches coverage and those that do not, generally the cities and the countryside respectively.

The problem with this disparity is the economic interests of the operators, which begin by providing coverage to those areas that are more densely populated that pay more for them since they will provide them with a greater number of clients, to leave the areas less populated.

Like satellite mobile phones, to have satellite Internet connection we need the antenna to focus directly to the sky, so this element is installed in exteriors.

Photos: Fotolia - ArchMen / Robu_s