But what about businesses operating in remote areas or those who are planning to extend operations to these areas to expand their reach? High speed Internet services to such areas are provided through satellite, also known as the VSAT services.

What is VSAT?

VSAT stands for Very Small Aperture Terminals. VSAT is the satellite system in which the terminal equipment uses an antenna smaller than 3 meters in size.

VSAT Internet services are available anywhere within the footprint of the satellite from which the Internet broadband provider is drawing the data feed. Thus in the remotest corners where other terrestrial services are unable to reach, VSAT based Internet service provides high-speed broadband connections.

Regardless of where your business is located, Internet services using VSAT provide secure, always up and high speed service. And unlike other traditional communication system, VSAT can be installed in a matter of 1 or 2 days.

How VSAT works

Geostationary satellites are placed in the geostationary orbit over the equator of the earth. The VSAT antenna connects to the satellite and in turn gets connected to the Internet backbone. These satellites execute communication systems using non-tracking antennas.

Types of services

One-way VSAT services

The subscriber uses wireless Internet connection. This service is popular among users who only need to download data and not upload it. As compared to two-way VSAT service, one-way VSAT service is more affordable. One classic example of one-way VSAT system is direct-to-home (DTH) television broadcasting to residential users.

Two-way VSAT Services

In Two-way Satellite Internet service, the user can upload and download the data rapidly and securely. No matter in which part of the world you are located, as a two-way Satellite Internet subscriber you have access to high quality broadband Internet service.

Advantages of having Internet connection via satellite / VSAT:

?No matter which part of the country you have your business in; VSAT can be made available easily without worrying about the lack of terrestrial communication infrastructure, provided the area falls under the satellite footprint. It is a very secure and an efficient medium to connect geographically scattered locations with the Internet.

?Regardless of the location, VSAT Network provides fast service and ensures excellent transmission quality. VSAT provides customers equally high speed at all locations across their entire network.

?Where other services are not possible, VSAT ensures easy manageability and can be easily deployed in hours.

?VSAT network offers very high security to transfer of confidential corporate data.

?Operating costs and the incremental cost per unit are lower. Hence it is more cost-effective.

?VSAT is flexible. Adding a new site to the network and removing or relocating existing sites from it is easy.

?VSAT systems can deliver the same content to diverse locations simultaneously and that too at no additional charges.

?VSAT provides one single platform where you can get installations services, equipment repair services and other maintenance services.

VSAT has been successful in more than 100 countries. Be it Internet cafes, gas stations, remote hospitals, or for educational or business purpose, VSAT has made life easier by providing the fast, secure and uninterrupted Internet connection. No doubt, the workload and business for companies providing Internet broadband services VSAT is increasing rapidly.

Moreover these satellite Internet broadband providers are performing a very important social service, that of bringing some of very marginalized sections of society to the mainstream through the information superhighway called Internet.