Businesses can choose from several options for internet and VPN access, including DSL, T-carrier lines (T1 and T3), fiber optic carriers, and VSAT satellite. While satellite internet might seem expensive, it can be the most cost-effective choice, especially for remote or rural areas or if low bandwidth is sufficient.
VSAT, which stands for Very Small Aperture Terminal, uses satellite dishes less than 3 meters (9 feet) in diameter, with many even smaller at one meter or less. This compact size makes VSAT ground stations ideal for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). These dishes can be installed on roofs, walls, poles, or flat roofs with non-penetrating mounts in just a few hours.
VSAT’s practicality and affordability stem from its use of Ka and Ku band spot beam satellites. These frequencies, ranging from 18 to 31 GHz for Ka band and 12 to 18 GHz for Ku band (also used by satellite TV), concentrate power on specific geographic areas. This results in stronger signals, better reliability, and smaller dishes. It also increases satellite capacity because frequencies can be reused in non-overlapping beam areas.
Another cost-saving measure is the use of standard DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) modems for data encoding. This established standard is commonly used by cable providers for broadband internet services.
What does this mean for your business? Two-way satellite internet connectivity starts at less than $50 per month for a 64Kbps x 64Kbps connection. This speed surpasses dial-up and is comparable to a single ISDN BRI bearer channel, all without needing a phone line or waiting for a connection. This bandwidth is suitable for many small retail point-of-sale (POS) systems that require credit card verification and daily uploads of accounting and inventory data. Retail stores, grocery stores, and quick-service restaurants are examples of businesses that utilize this type of connection.
Many major retail chains use business satellite links as their primary or backup internet connection. You can spot these dishes on gas stations, particularly unattended ones, pharmacies, car dealerships, and large retail centers. Originally designed for the oil service industry, VSAT is still used for oil field monitoring. Other applications include telemedicine, education, financial services, digital billboards, remote monitoring, and SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition).
Many of these applications demand higher bandwidth than the 64K DS0 level. VSAT offers various upload and download speeds, reaching up to 5 Mbps x 768 Kbps.
It’s important to note that two-way satellite terminals usually come with an equipment cost, typically around a thousand dollars. Professional installation and alignment are necessary because the dish’s radio transmitter could cause interference if not aimed precisely at the designated satellite.
Business satellite service differs from consumer satellite internet in several ways: a broader selection of bandwidth options, service level agreements (SLAs) that guarantee availability, VPN (Virtual Private Networking) services for secure corporate data transfers, and enterprise-grade network operation centers. For instance, Broad Sky Networks provides an average signal latency of 650 msec, significantly lower than the 1 to 2 seconds experienced on some other systems. Latency, which causes delays in communication, is critical for interactive applications like VoIP telephone and video conferencing. Due to the over 52,000-mile round trip to and from geosynchronous orbit, satellite link latency is generally higher than landline latency.
Compared to consumer-grade services, business satellite services often offer more favorable fair access policies. A satellite is a finite resource; if one client consistently uploads or downloads large amounts of data, the system can become overloaded. Fair access policies dictate weekly or monthly data limits before the system slows down or restricts data to a specific satellite terminal. This isn’t typically a concern for most businesses but could be problematic for massive remote data backups or streaming audio/video. In these cases, terrestrial links like T1 or DS3 private lines are more suitable.
Determining if VSAT business satellite internet or VPN service is right for your company depends on your specific needs. Our team of technical experts can guide you through the available bandwidth solutions, including VSAT, to find the most cost-effective option. Contact MegaTrunks today to discuss your business connectivity requirements.
Please be aware that business VSAT services are best suited for businesses with their own locations. Residential and home office users can utilize our Broadband ISP Locator to find DSL, Cable, and Satellite internet services.