In today‘s world, having an internet connection is more of a necessity than it is a luxury. Not only do we use it for entertainment purposes, but also for business, studies, and staying connected with the people around us. It has become a primary source of news, information, and a place where many enjoy shopping, work and spend a lot of their free time.
Even though it has opened so many new doors and given individuals new opportunities, there are still many people who do not have access to it. As hard as it is to imagine life without it, people living in remote or suburban areas, too far from fiber-optic cables or telephone wires are left with very few options when it comes to having a stable connection.
Although these broadband services are currently unattainable for individuals living in the middle of nowhere, luckily, they still have a chance to access the World Wide Web, either via a dial-up connection or a satellite one.
And in spite of the former being much cheaper than any other service, people who can only choose between the two available options are increasingly going for the latter. You might be wondering why that is, so here are some things to know, as well as all the benefits this service has to offer.
How Does It Work?
As one can guess from its name, it utilizes satellites to provide a connection. The process includes three pieces of equipment which include a dish that is usually placed on your house, a NOC – the provider‘s Network Operations Center, and a geostationary satellite that is located some 22,300 miles in orbit.
In space, it appears as it is stationary although it is actually synched with the Earth‘s rotation which means it is optimally positioned for receiving and sending signals 24 hours a day.
Every time you access a webpage, download, or stream, your device sends a request to the geostationary satellite through a modem and your dish. After it receives the signal, it then sends your request to the NOC which directly connects with the website.
The request than bounces back through the NOC, up to the artificial body in space, through your dish, then modem, and straight to your device. The page will then load for you and you will be able to view its contents.
Although it seems like an extremely long process, with technology advancements and improvements, it actually takes only a second for the entire process to be complete, providing an extremely quick, stress-free user experience.
The Benefits
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Availability
The satellite in orbit enables the signal to reach just about any place in the world, even areas that have never had access to high-quality connections and that haven‘t had enough speed to use the web for anything else than its basic functions.
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Speed
Since the launch of HughesNet Internet Gen5 service, users now have access to broadband speeds that offer download speeds of 25 Mbps and upload speeds of 3 Mbps or higher. Available to anyone, no matter the location, it enables faster web browsing, downloading, and streaming than ever before.
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More Data and No Hard Limits
With a wide range of plans and prices, providers know offer users much more data as compared to the past. This way, people have more opportunities to not only explore the World Wide Web, but also download music, images, and videos much faster and upload files quicker too.
You do not have to worry too much about surpassing your limit since you will still have access, although it will be at slower speeds. However, you will not be charged any extra fees due to it.
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Video Data Saver
Certain services offer special data-saving features such as one for videos that allows you to conserve data while being able to watch about 2 to 3 times more content. This is especially great for people who enjoy watching movies or TV shows on various streaming services.
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Built-in Wi-Fi and Higher Bandwidth
You no longer need a router to have Wi-Fi in your home thanks to the built-in technology that enables all devices to connect to the service easily and at any time. The technology now also comes with higher bandwidth – the rate of data flow and lower latency – the time required for transferring data, allowing for uninterrupted usage, no matter the number of connected devices or the time of day.
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Great For Any Budget
Individuals will have an opportunity to find a plan that will suit all of their family‘s needs, but that also fits one‘s budget. Besides various plan options, the installation process is quite fast and certain providers give you a chance to buy the equipment if you would like to own it, however, they also allow you to lease it if you are running on a tight budget or would like to minimize costs.
Not only that, but it is the most cost-effective solution, since building the infrastructure for a broadband network in the area is extremely expensive, no matter the size or location.
What Can You Use It For?
With today‘s plans, you will have the opportunity to connect and share more, shop, do online banking, plan your vacations, and even work from home, all at incredible speeds. The service has already surpassed dial-up connections and even some DSL ones and with technological advancements, it might even be up to par with fiber and cable ones in the future, shifting from being the last resort option to a viable one.
Is It a Good Option?
For people in remote locations and individuals living in the suburbs, it provides speeds that are fast enough for streaming services, offers unlimited availability, as well as Wi-Fi connectivity. Another great bonus is that it operates independently from local infrastructure, meaning that it is less likely to get interrupted during harsh weather or in cases of damage, it is recovered and operational again much faster.
Conclusion
For individuals with limited options, choosing this service should be an easy decision to make and an obvious one as well. Not only does it offer speed and stability, but with an optimal plan, you and your family will surely enjoy a few other benefits it provides.
