From outer space to routers: Satellite Internet Explanation

Although it is not the fastest, satellite internet is the only type of internet connection available in all 50 states, making it the biggest contender for rural households with limited internet choices.

Although very popular StarlinkMoreover, with its growing power of 7,000 satellites, satellite internet is often seen as a last resort for home internet. So, what makes satellite internet so good? What should you pay attention to before registering? Let’s take a closer look at how satellite internet works and what expectations are from the industry’s top competitors.

Read more: The best internet providers of 2025: Cables & Fiber & Satellites and more

How does satellite internet work?

Like satellite TV, satellite dishes will be radio waves propagating from satellites in geostationary, low-Earth orbit. Radio frequencies, or “satellite spectroscopy”, are licensed frequencies managed by the Federal Communications Commission and the Global International Telecommunications Union. Internet service providers use data centers or central stations connected to the Internet network to remit information back to the receiver disk.

There are many complex technologies to transfer data from satellites to your computer, but to simplify it, think of the satellite internet as a job that works in three main components:

• Your satellite dish: Your dishes receive and transmit data.
• Rotating satellite: Satellites in outer space receive information from your satellite disk and return route requests to Earth and transfer them to the data center.
• Data Center: Data centers, which have plugged into larger Internet infrastructure, complete requests and send data back to satellites. The data will then return to your dish.

To work effectively, the satellite disk must be placed with clear line of sight. You will connect the modem to the dish to convert the incoming signal into a viable Internet connection. This is really all that satellite internet needs to work, except for power to keep the receiver disk powered (again the sky can be clearly seen).

Although satellite internet providers must build data centers or ground stations that rely on wired infrastructure, there are usually multiple. This means that the satellite internet does not depend on cables, fiber optics or telephone lines. Because ground technologies like this are not fully developed in rural areas due to insufficient population density, ISPs have to spend more money to cover the increased ground to keep the same number of families online. Satellite Internet avoids problems by skipping ground infrastructure altogether, making satellite Internet a convenient internet option in rural or hard to reach areas.

Pushing satellites into space is expensive, but once enough networks are available, companies can provide customers with broadband satellite internet on a wide range of earth, even in fairly remote places that wired ISPs can’t achieve.

Who provides satellite Internet?

The country’s top satellite internet provider is Viasat,,,,, Hughesnet and Starlink. Viasat and Hughesnet have been engaged in satellite-based communications business for decades. Although Starlink is a relatively newcomer to the industry, it has become a strong competitor in recent years, largely due to its rapid deployment of satellites, faster speeds, low latency and instant satellite internet dishes.

To keep up with the game, Hugsnet launched its Jupiter 3 satellite in 2023, one of the largest commercial communications satellites. This allows for improved download speeds up to 100Mbps for satellite Internet customers. Meanwhile, Viasat has begun offering a program with download speeds up to 150Mbps but is not available in all locations.

According to the latest report from Ookla’s first quarter 2024 report, including satellite internet metrics, Viasat averages about 34Mbps, while Hughesnet averages only 15Mbps. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET Ziff Davis.

Starlink already has more than 7,000 satellites in orbit and has attracted millions of customers in the United States and beyond. While Starlink’s plan isn’t cheap (starts at $120 a month and upfront for the device is $349), the network promises faster than we traditionally expect from satellite internet.

However, as Amazon’s project will be available for sale in the second half of 2025, the industry may soon hold new competition in the industry. Company website. In July 2020, the FCC approved the deployment of the Kuiper project Thousands of low-Earth orbit satellites Create your own satellite-based broadband service. Planned to launch up to 83 satellites In the next five years. The first full-size satellite launch consists of 27 satellites that exploded on April 9. So, please stay tuned for the update.

Where is the satellite internet available?

Due to satellite spread at these latitudes, satellite Internet signals can be received in most parts of the United States. For example, Hughes Network and Starlink provide services in all 50 states. Viasat offers close to complete insurance in the United States, except Alaskaonly available in certain areas.

Some satellite internet companies are also exploring coverage in other parts of the world and are trying to adopt new deployment methods such as using community hotspots instead of residential dishes and connections. Starlink’s portable satellite dish, Starlink minifurther expand the coverage of the Internet to rural areas and travelers.

How does satellites compare to other types of internet connections?

Although recent advances have contributed to the satellite internet Click Baseline Broadband Speedit’s still better than most Other common patterns of the Internet. In most cases, other options will provide better speeds with lower latency.

For example, DSL and Wired Internet Commonly, DSL download speeds range from 3 to 140 megabits per second, and the cables usually offer anywhere from 10 to 2,000Mbps, depending on your plan. Although Starlink’s Elon Musk promises that satellite internet is typically 12 to 200Mbps, speeds of up to 300Mbps, or even 2,000Mbps will be possible.

Fiber optic InternetUsing fiber optic cables, it can provide up to 5 or even 10 gigabit combustion speed download speeds (5,000 or 10,000Mbps). With fiber, your uploads are usually as fast as your downloads, which is not the case with cables, DSL, or satellites. Installing fiber cables is expensive and are not efficient in areas with low population density, so in most parts of the United States there is no idea or when fiber becomes a viable option.

That is, due to the relatively slow average speed and high monthly costs, satellite Internet usually offers the highest cost per Mbps (a roughly metric of the value of a home internet plan).

Here is a quick analysis of the pros and cons of satellite connection

advantage

• It can take a long time to wait for broadband internet in your area and now you can use satellite internet.
• Satellite Internet is relatively simple to obtain: Find a company that offers it, rent a receiver or pre-buy it, and sign up for a plan that suits your needs.
• Major companies such as SpaceX and Amazon are bringing new competition to the satellite internet market, which means better speed and value in the long run.

shortcoming

• Often, it is more expensive than other forms of internet, and its receiver dishes can be more costly upfront. this Cost per pound Satellite Internet is usually high.
• There are many satellites in distant orbits above the earth. High latency period Satellite Internet is a common problem. Your traffic will require extra moments to make up for outer space.
• If there is no clear connection to the constellation overhead, the satellite internet can be very picky. For example, as Hugsnet said, satellite dishes must be in good condition with “clear views of the southern sky.” Snow or other bad weather Can create spots or even interruptions.

Satellite Internet FAQ