From outer space to routers: Here’s how satellite internet works

It’s not the fastest Internet connection typeSatellite Internet is the only connection type available in all 50 states, making it the best candidate countryside Households with limited internet options.

Despite the popularity of starlinkAnd its growth potential 7,000 satellitesSatellite Internet is generally considered a last resort for home Internet. So what is being made? Satellite Internet Is it so wonderful? What should you care before signing up? Let’s take a closer look at how satellite internet works and what to expect from top competitors in the industry.

read more: Best Internet Providers of 2025: Cable vs Fiber vs Satellite etc.

How does satellite internet work?

Like satellite television, satellite dishes receive radio waves transmitted by satellites in low or high Earth orbits. Internet service providers use data centers connected to the Internet network to send information back to the receiver plate.

To work effectively, the dish must be placed in a position with a clear gaze. Connect the modem to that dish to convert incoming signals into a viable Internet connection. In addition to the electricity (and again, a clear view of the sky) to keep the receiver’s dish running, it’s really all you need for the satellite internet to work.

Satellite Internet is independent of cable, fiber, or telephone lines. Because of the lack of population density, ground-based technologies like these would be rural, meaning ISPs must spend more on covering ground growth to bring the same number of households online. It’s not very developed in the department. Satellite Internet avoids that problem by skipping terrestrially imposed infrastructure, making satellite Internet a convenient option for internet connection.

It is expensive to launch satellites into space, but once you have enough networks, Companies can offer broadband Satellite Internet to customers across a wide range of planets, even in places quite far away.

Who currently offers satellite internet?

That’s the top domestic satellite internet providers Viasat, Hughesnet and starlink. Viasat and Hughesnet have been in the satellite-based communications business for decades. Starlink is a relative newcomer in the industry, but mostly thanks to it, it has become a strong competitor in recent years. Rapid deployment of satellitesfaster speed, lower latency, and Satellite Internet Cuisine on the Go.

To keep up with the competition, Hughesnet launched it Jupiter 3 The 2023 satellite is one of the largest commercial communications satellites and can improve download speeds for satellite internet customers up to 100Mbps. Meanwhile, ViaSat has started offering plans at a faster download speed of 150Mbps, but that speed is not available everywhere.

According to Ookla’s Q1 2024 report – Latest reports including satellite internet metrics – ViaSat averaged around 34Mbps in download speeds, while Hughesnet provided just a small portion of an average of 15Mbps. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET and Ziff Davis.) Starlink averaged 64Mbps, breaking the speeds of both Viasat and Hughesnet.

Starlink already boasts and reaches over 7,000 satellites in orbit Millions of customers in the US and beyond. While Starlink’s plans aren’t cheap (from $120 to $349 to $349 per month equipment), the network promises faster speeds and slower than previously expected from the satellite internet.

However, with Amazon’s Project Kuiper scheduled to be available in 2025, there could soon be a new competition in the industry. Company website. In July 2020, the Federal Communications Commission approved the deployment of Project Kuiper.Thousands of low-Earth orbital satellites Create your own satellite-based broadband services. Up to 83 satellite launches are planned The next five yearsSo please look forward to the latest news.

Where can I use satellite internet?

With these latitude-based satellite growth, most regions of the United States can receive satellite Internet signals. For example, Hughesnet and Starlink offer services in all 50 states. ViaSat offers almost complete coverage in the US, except for that underthe service is only available in certain regions.

Some satellite internet companies are also experimenting with new developmental approaches such as investigating coverage in other parts of the world and using it Community Hotspots Instead of residential cuisine and connections. Starlink portable satellite dishes, Starlink Minifurther expanding the internet scope for rural and tourists.

How do satellites compare to other internet connection types?

Recent advances are useful for satellite internet Press Baseline Broadband Speedmore expensive than most people Other common modes of the internet. In most cases, other options offer better speeds with lower latency.

for example, DSL and Cable Internet DSL download speeds are very common in the 3-140 range Megabits per second And the cables usually offer 10-2,000Mbps depending on your plan. Starlink’s Elon Musk has promised its speeds to be at its maximum, but satellite internet is generally available at 12-200Mbps. 300mbps And more 2,000Mbps It will become possible.

Fiber InternetIt uses fiber optic cables, so it can provide fast download speeds of up to 5 or 10 Gigabit (5,000 or 10,000 mbps). With fiber, uploads are usually as fast as downloads, but this is not the case for cables, DSLs, or satellites. Fiber cable installation is expensive and deployment is cost-effective in areas with low population density, so it is not clear whether or when fiber will become a viable option in most rural areas. yeah.

That said, satellite internet usually offers the best internet Cost per MBPS – A rough indicator of value using an internet-connected home internet plan due to its relatively slow average speeds and high monthly costs.

Here’s a quick summary of the pros and cons of satellite connections:

Strong Points

• Waiting for broadband internet in your area can take a long time, and satellite internet is now available.
• Getting satellite internet is relatively easy: Find a company that offers it, rent a receiver plate, pay upfront, or sign up for a plan that suits your needs.
• Large companies like SpaceX and Amazon are bringing new competition to the satellite internet market. This means better speed and value in the long run.

Cons

• It is usually more expensive than other forms of internet and can result in the rapid growth cost of receiver dishes. Cost per Mbps Usually, satellite internet is expensive.
• Because there are many satellites in distant orbits on Earth, High delay This is a common problem with satellite internet. Your traffic will need some extra time to compensate for it into outer space.
• Satellite Internet can be cumbersome if there is no sign overhead and clear connection. For example, as Hughesnet says, satellite dishes should be well aligned with “a clear view of the southern sky.” Snow buildup or other types of bad weather You can create universes and even halts.

Satellite Internet FAQ