Expanding Satellite Broadband Service
For many in rural regions, broadband internet service is nothing more than a dream. Even some people don’t have to be way out in the middle of nowhere to be cut off from the internet superhighway. All it takes in some cases is a high mountain or valley separating one city from another to cause the internet to pass by a small community. As a result the only option for these residents is to get their internet service from satellite broadband.
When using broadband satellite service there are both positives and even a few drawbacks. For most users, satellite broadband is fast enough considering the signal has to endure a 44,600 mile round trip. This is because the satellite is located in geosynchronous orbit above the equator at an altitude of 22,300 miles. At this height, the satellite stays in the same relative earth position all of the time. The equipment needed for satellite broadband also only includes a small satellite dish and modem. However, some users also complain that satellite broadband is too slow for today’s graphic rich websites. This can be especially true when compared to cable or DSL service. In addition, satellite broadband can cost between and 0 dollars a month which is too much for some rural residents.
However, satellite broadband companies still do plenty of business. In fact, it is the only choice for some 10% of the households in the United States. Despite a few drawbacks, when individuals start realizing the advantages of having internet service, more people are expected to sign up. As a result, the two largest satellite internet providers, WildBlue Communications and HughesNet are doubling their capacity by adding two new satellites within the next year. This is good news to anyone from farmers to long distance commuters or even those with a second home away from an urban area, but still need and relies on the internet. Until now, both companies have either been leasing space on other satellites or using spare bandwidth on others. New, dedicated satellites will allow these companies to potentially add up to a million new subscribers. Currently, there are too many subscribers for the space that is available. This is slowing down service, but this problem should be remedied at least somewhat when the new dedicated satellites come on line.
Companies such as WildBlue and HughesNet may also start improving the speed of service, rather than just capacity. This means that companies won’t have to throttle back on speed when they sign up more customers which takes up more available bandwidth. Of course, slower service is always going to be a part of satellite broadband simply because of the distance. However, the more people that are using the service, the slower it is going to be. There is not a huge lag, typically just two to four seconds, but that can make playing online games or participating in instant messaging harder to do than just regular internet surfing. Still, though it is worth it for some people to continue to live where they want to and make a living.
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