Challenges and Updates with Satellite Broadband

Satellite broadband internet allows households and businesses to connect to the internet. The limitations of several internet service providers in terms of signal coverage and presence of telecom towers are the reasons why for quite some time already, people in the rural areas have no way of connecting to the World Wide Web. 

Despite the technology, there are challenges surrounding satellite broadband internet. First, is the speed. For most residents and business owners who are connected via satellite, the feedback is almost always the same. Downloading and uploading files take some time. Streaming videos and popular shows on the web can be painstakingly long. Playing games can get frustrating to impossible at times. However, between satellite internet and dial-up, the former is a lot faster.

Why speed becomes an issue with satellite broadband is because the connection from a roof mounted satellite antenna on earth and an orbiting satellite in space takes some time to establish. It can take a few milliseconds for a signal to be established, and this is enough to delay the transmission of data.

Second, satellite broadband internet is also affected by the weather. If rain or snow is too severe, the reliability of the satellite internet connection ultimately becomes affected. However, this is a rare case since despite some outdoor equipment being rugged, it is still able to maintain a steady internet connection for the user. 

Another challenge is the latency. Latency is the amount of time a signal travels from its source (the satellite in space) to its destination (the internet user's computer). However, satellite internet, latency is multiplied twice because the computer needs to send a request first to a satellite orbiting in space. With satellites typically orbiting the earth at at 20,000 miles, it becomes a challenge to use VoIP applications and play with real-time strategy and first-person shooter games.

Further, with the challenges that are beyond the control of a satellite broadband connection and any kind of internet connection for that matter, there are inconveniences that the internet user should be wary about so as to manage expectations. These uncontrollable factors can be a congestion in the satellite system or the fact that the website you are visiting has various page elements such as a Flash animation homepage.

As far as the NBN Co is concerned, the eligible households and businesses today can connect to the NBN Co's interim satellite service until installation NBN Co's Long Term Satellite Service becomes complete in 2015. 

For the time being, if you are interested in applying for the interim satellite service, know the registered internet service providers that can link you with a satellite internet service. Make sure that you are eligible. If you are, a registration ID will be issued together with an information and declaration pack.

Why FTTH / FTTP Works Best than Copper-Based Internet

Today, it is definitely all about speed. The faster you get can get your tasks done, the more time you can have for other things. Time and speed are the currencies in this fast-paced world we call life even including the internet.

When it comes to ensuring optimal internet speed, the discussion whether to get FTTH and FTTP or conventional copper wires always comes up. Below are reasons why FTTH or fibre-to-the-home or fibre-to-the-premises is better than going for copper. 

1.       It is faster.

A reason why internet speed is faster using fibre optic cables is due to its lightweight composition. Fibre optic cables are made of photons, which are significantly lighter compared to electrons that are elemental in copper wires. Between photons and electrons, the former is lighter in terms of weight.

Another reason why internet speed is faster is based on the kind of data transmission it follows. Data transmission in fibre is done through light pulses while electricity is for copper. No one can refute the fact that nothing can get any faster than the speed of light. Aside from increased speeds, data is transmitted more with fidelity in fibre.

2.        It is safer.

In the event of a natural calamity such as a storm or a hurricane, physical infrastructures are always at the risk of destruction. It can fall down on the ground and it can also cause fatal shock hazards especially when flooding occurs. This is generally the case for telecommunication posts powered with electrical wires.

With dielectric fibre optic cables, these safety hazards are not present. Fibre optic cables are non-conducting and need not be powered at a high voltage. Copper wires are open faced. You can see several strings of wires hanging on power lines, and in a heavily urban environment, this can be a big environmental risk. 

3.       It is more secure.

Fibre optic cables are more secure because it does not radiate signals like copper wires do. It is wiretap-proof so if there are important documents you are migrating or storing online, you can be sure that these will be well-protected. If there is indeed an intention to wire tap it though, light leaks from the fibre optic cables, and it is definitely not hard to miss where the tampering is coming from.

Since fibre optic cables are installed outdoors and indoors inside a wire cabinet, physical security is ensured unlike copper wires that are open faced and thus easy to tamper with.

4.       It is more immune to environmental factors.

The beauty of fibre optic cables lies in its glass construction. Glass is a good insulator. It is immune to interferences such as electrostatic and electromagnetic interferences. And again, with its glass composition found at its core, fibre optic cables are not affected by erratic temperature changes. If the fibre optic cable cabinet is located near an industrial facility or if the weather outdoors changes from hot to cold, you don’t have to worry about the quality of your internet connection getting affected by these environmental forces.