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.