From the outside space to your router: Here's how satellite internet works

While by no means the fastest The type of internet connectionSatellite internet is the only type of link available in all 50 countries, making it a top candidate for rural Households with limited options on the Internet.

Despite the popularity of Stardlinkand the growing power of his 7,000 satellitesSatellite internet is usually considered a last resort for home internet. So what is he doing Satellite internet So great? What should you be careful about before you sign in? Let's look at how satellite internet works – and what to expect from top competitors in the industry.

Read more: Best Internet providers for 2025: Cable versus fiber vs. satellite and more

How does satellite internet work?

Like satellite television, satellite dishes receive radio waves transmitted by satellites in low or high -ground orbit. Internet service providers use internet network -related data centers to rely on information back to the receiver container.

To work effectively, the container must be positioned in a clean view line. Connecte connect a modem to that container to translate the incoming signal to viable internet connection. In addition to electricity to keep the receiver container (and, again, a clear view of the sky), that's really all you need for satellite internet work.

Satellite internet does not depend on cable, fiber or telephone lines. Earth -based technologies, as they are not so developed in rural areas, as the lack of population density means that ISPs must spend more to cover the increased terrain to bring the same number of households online. Satellite internet bypasses that problem by skipping ground infrastructure, making satellite internet a comfortable internet connection option.

The launch of satellites in space is expensive, but once a sufficient network is found, Companies can offer broadband internet Satellite internet to clients through a wide range of the planet, even in fairly remote places.

Who currently offers satellite internet?

Top satellite internet providers in the country are Viaat, Hughesnet And Stardlink. Viyasat and Hugenet have been in business activity for decades. While Starklink is a relative newcomer to the industry, she has become a strong competitor in recent years, largely thanks to his Quick deployment of satellitesfaster speeds, low latency and Satellite meals on the Internet.

To keep up with the match, Hugnet started his Jupiter 3 Satellite in 2023, one of the largest commercial communication satellites was built, enabling improved download speeds of 100Mbps satellite customers online. Meanwhile, Viasat has started offering a speed of download speeds of 150Mbps, but that speed is not available at all locations.

According to the OOKLA Q1 2024 report – The latest report on the inclusion of satellite metrics on the Internet- Viasat on average about 34Mbps in the download speed, with Hughesnet offers only an average of 15Mbps. (Ocla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.

Starles can already boast more than 7,000 satellites in orbit and reaches millions of customers in the US and beyond. While Starklink's plans do not come cheap (starting at $ 120 a month plus $ 349 for equipment), the network promises faster speeds and lower latency than we have traditionally expected from satellite internet.

However, there may soon be new competition in the industry, as the Amazon Kuiper project is scheduled to be available in 2025, according to company website. In July 2020, the Federal Communications Commission approved the deployment of the Kuiper ProjectThousands of satellites with a low -land orbit to create its own broadband service based on satellite. As many as 83 satellite launches are planned Over the next five yearsSo stay tuned for updates.

Where is the satellite internet available?

Due to the propagation of satellites adapted to those latitudes, most areas of the United States can get satellite signals online. For example, Hujugnet and Starklink offer services in all 50 countries. Viasat offers almost complete coverage in the United States, except for Downwhere the service is only available in certain regions.

Some satellite internet companies also explore covering in other parts of the world and experiment with new deployment approaches, such as used Hoteses' points in the community instead of residential dishes and relationships. The portable satellite dish of Starlink, The The the Starlink miniIt further expands the reach of the internet to rural areas and passengers.

How is the satellite compared to other types of internet -bone?

While recent achievements have helped satellite internet hit the basic speeds of broadband internetis still more expensive than most Other usual ways on the Internet. In most cases, other options will offer better speed with lower latency.

For example, DSL And cable internet are very common, with the DSL download speeds ranging from 3 to 140 Megabits per second And the cable usually provides somewhere from 10 to 2,000mbps, depending on your plan. Satellite internet generally comes at 12 to 200Mbps, although Elon Musk at Starklink has promised to speed to 300Mbps And even 2,000 Mbps will be possible.

Fiber Internetwhich uses fiber optic cables, it can offer a bright speed download speed as much as 5 or even 10 gigabits per second (5,000 or 10,000mbps). With fiber, your settings will usually be as fast as your downloads, which is not the case with cable, DSL or satellite. Installing a fiber cable is expensive, and deployment is not economical in areas with low population density, so it is not said whether or when the hair becomes a sustainable option in most rural America.

That said, satellite internet usually offers the highest Price per Mbps – Rough indicator of value with domestic internet plans- of any kind of internet connection due to relatively slow average speeds and high monthly costs.

Here's a quick overview of the pros and cons of satellite connection

The good ones

• Waiting for broadband in your area can take a long time, and satellite internet is now available.
• Satellite internet is relatively simple to acquire: Find a company that offers, rent a receiver plate or buy it in advance and sign up for the right plan for your needs.
• Big companies like SpaceX and Amazon bring new competition to the satellite market on the Internet, which means better speed and value in the long run.

Cons

• Usually more expensive than other forms on the Internet, with the potential for steep forward costs for your receiver. The Price of Mbps It is usually high with satellite internet.
• With many satellites in the far -fledged orbit above the ground, High latency is a common question with satellite internet. Your traffic will need a few extra moments to complement the exterior.
• Satellite internet can be beautiful if it has no clear connection to the state. For example, satellite dishes must be well -aligned with a “clear view of the southern sky”, as Hugnett says. Snow building or other types of bad weather can create noticeably or even interruption.

Frequently Asked Questions in Satellite