Did you know we can get a broadband internet signal almost anywhere on earth through the use of satellites? This shouldn't be too much of a surprise - after all, by now most of you have heard of people using mobile satellite phones to place calls from deserts, oceans, and mountaintops. It's not that much of a jump from a radio signal to an internet signal.

Due to the nature of broadband by satellite technology , it is not the best choice for someone simply surfing the net at home in a big city with several high-speed broadband internet service providers (ISPs). Broadband by satellite, however, is highly useful for people with no other internet options, living miles and miles from the nearest ISP. This article will describe the advantages and disadvantages of broadband by satellite.

Advantages of Broadband by Satellite

Location

First, the main advantage of broadband by satellite is that you can get a broadband internet signal anywhere on earth, no matter how far you are from the nearest Ethernet port of cable connection. This is useful for people who live in remote rural locations where the only internet option available is the agonizingly slow 56 Kbps dial-up telephone modem connection.

Mobility

Second, by its very nature, broadband by satellite is a wireless connection that allows considerable freedom of movement. This is particularly useful for maintaining an internet signal in mobile locations, such as while in moving vehicle like trains or in a ship at sea.

Disadvantages of Broadband by Satellite

Line of Sight

In order for a satellite dish to receive a broadband internet signal, it must have a free line of sight to the geostationary satellite in orbit. Obstacles such as buildings, trees, and even leaves can get the way of line-of-sight and block the signal, leaving you with no connection.

Weather

Although rain will not block a broadband by satellite signal, it will cause an interference known as "rain fade." Rain fade results in slower upload & download speeds and a patchy connection.

Connection Speed

When an internet signal has to travel 22,000 miles to a satellite in earth's orbit and back, a certain about of latency (the delay between requesting some data and getting a response) is unavoidable. The average latency for broadband by satellite is between 500 and 900 milliseconds-much worse than even a dial-up internet connection, where the latency is only 150 to 200 milliseconds. Although this slow data transfer speed is just fine for basic internet usage-email and web browsing-it is too slow for computer applications that require real-time internet access, such as internet gaming, videoconferencing, and VoIP (Voice over IP) telephone conversations.

Cost

Broadband by satellite costs considerably more than earth-based, wired technology like DSL or cable modems. On average, broadband by satellite costs two three times as much as from a land-based internet service provider. Finally, broadband by satellite equipment such as the satellite dish and satellite modem costs between $600 and $2000, considerably more than a cable or DSL modem, which usually cost less than $150.

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