Advantages / Benefits of VSAT Satellite Networks: 

Access in Remote Locations: This has been the traditional strength of Satellite Networks. A Satellite in the Geo Synchronous orbit can cover around 33% of the EARTH’s surface and can provide connectivity to any region covered by it. A satellite can also focus on a particular high density region and multiple satellites can work together to provide global coverage. This is very useful for remote locations (rural areas, ships and coastal regions, hills, etc) where there is limited or no terrestrial connectivity.

Internet Access: A VSAT Network can provide Internet access in addition to the point to point WAN links. Its all set to create a next major wave in the consumer broadband industry with the launch of satellites operating in the Ka band offering very high throughput, especially in the non metro regions. ‘Always ON’ broadband Internet services are possible with VSAT networks.

Rapid deployment: Once the Satellite is put in to its orbit, the deployment at the customer premises can be done (usually in hours) if the equipment is available, with MINIMUM training. And the deployment can be done in any region, irrespective of where it is located.

VPN: Satellites support encryption of all data transmitted between two sites or multiple sites, which make the creation of Virtual Private Networks (VPN) possible. This is one reason why the VSAT networks could find more acceptance in the corporate and Government/ Defense connectivity requirements.

QoS: VSAT Networks support QoS (Quality of Service) and Layer 2 prioritization policies to be applied across the WAN link which enables real time applications to be deployed across the network.

Mobile Access: Mobile access has been another traditional strength of a satellite network. This makes TV broadcasters (for example) make broadcasts from anywhere – even when they are on the move. Another possible application could be mobile Internet access, while on the move.

Bandwidth Allocation: It is possible to allocate/ restrict bandwidth based on individual applications – this could be a very useful feature for business communications, ensuring that critical business applications like ERP always have a certain dedicated bandwidth across the VSAT networks.

Scalable: VSAT networks can be easily and cost effectively be scaled to accommodate multiple locations across the globe. In fact, some of the largest customers of VSAT networks have as many as 10,000 sites on a single network!

Cost: Though the initial INVESTMENT (service provider perspective) might be high in terms of the cost of satellites and putting them in the orbit, the running cost (end point terminals and on going subscription) is coming down rapidly – That’s why applications like Direct To Home (Cable TV) are broadcasted directly from satellites to homes at a reasonable cost to the subscriber.

Standards based: VSAT networks are standards based and support IP (Internet Protocol) and its variants through a protocol called IPoS (Internet Protocol over Satellite – TIA 1008). SINCE the developments are standards based, it enables the creation of a healthy ecosystem of terminal, hub and ancillary equipment manufacturers and hence new innovations and improvements are faster.

Reliable: Satellite Networks are very reliable (having up-times in the MAGNITUDE of 99.5% and above) and have been field tested for many years now. Mission critical applications like Bank ATM’s, Navy and Point of Sale appliances use VSAT!

Single Hop: Satellite transmissions are single hop (mostly) when compared to the multiple hops that the communications based on terrestrial networks need to take to reach to their destination. Some factors like router performance etc, depends on multiple service providers and hence end to end QoS may not be possible with terrestrial public networks.

Advantages / Benefits of VSAT Satellite Networks: 

Access in Remote Locations: This has been the traditional strength of Satellite Networks. A Satellite in the Geo Synchronous orbit can cover around 33% of the earth’s surface and can provide connectivity to any region covered by it. A satellite can also focus on a particular high density region and multiple satellites can work together to provide global coverage. This is very useful for remote locations (rural areas, ships and coastal regions, hills, etc) where there is limited or no terrestrial connectivity.

Internet Access: A VSAT Network can provide Internet access in addition to the point to point WAN links. Its all set to create a next major wave in the consumer broadband industry with the launch of satellites operating in the Ka band offering very high throughput, especially in the non metro regions. ‘Always ON’ broadband Internet services are possible with VSAT networks.

Rapid deployment: Once the Satellite is put in to its orbit, the deployment at the customer premises can be done (usually in hours) if the equipment is available, with minimum training. And the deployment can be done in any region, irrespective of where it is located.

VPN: Satellites support encryption of all data transmitted between two sites or multiple sites, which make the creation of Virtual Private Networks (VPN) possible. This is one reason why the VSAT networks could find more acceptance in the corporate and Government/ Defense connectivity requirements.

QoS: VSAT Networks support QoS (Quality of Service) and Layer 2 prioritization policies to be applied across the WAN link which enables real time applications to be deployed across the network.

Mobile Access: Mobile access has been another traditional strength of a satellite network. This makes TV broadcasters (for example) make broadcasts from anywhere – even when they are on the move. Another possible application could be mobile Internet access, while on the move.

Bandwidth Allocation: It is possible to allocate/ restrict bandwidth based on individual applications – this could be a very useful feature for business communications, ensuring that critical business applications like ERP always have a certain dedicated bandwidth across the VSAT networks.

Scalable: VSAT networks can be easily and cost effectively be scaled to accommodate multiple locations across the globe. In fact, some of the largest customers of VSAT networks have as many as 10,000 sites on a single network!

Cost: Though the initial investment (service provider perspective) might be high in terms of the cost of satellites and putting them in the orbit, the running cost (end point terminals and on going subscription) is coming down rapidly – That’s why applications like Direct To Home (Cable TV) are broadcasted directly from satellites to homes at a reasonable cost to the subscriber.

Standards based: VSAT networks are standards based and support IP (Internet Protocol) and its variants through a protocol called IPoS (Internet Protocol over Satellite – TIA 1008). Since the developments are standards based, it enables the creation of a healthy ecosystem of terminal, hub and ancillary equipment manufacturers and hence new innovations and improvements are faster.

Reliable: Satellite Networks are very reliable (having up-times in the magnitude of 99.5% and above) and have been field tested for many years now. Mission critical applications like Bank ATM’s, Navy and Point of Sale appliances use VSAT!

Single Hop: Satellite transmissions are single hop (mostly) when compared to the multiple hops that the communications based on terrestrial networks need to take to reach to their destination. Some factors like router performance etc, depends on multiple service providers and hence end to end QoS may not be possible with terrestrial public networks.