NBN faces possible shortfall in capacity for satellite broadband services

The interim satellite broadband service of the national broadband network (NBN) in Australia has become so popular that its builder may encounter difficulties ensuring remote regions can access high-speed satellite services.

The interim satellite service is offering broadband services with download speeds that can reach six megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds up to one Mbps. These broadband services can reach Australians who live and work in the country's remote and rural areas.

Mike Quigley, the Chief of NBN Co., explained that demand for the interim satellite broadband service has exceeded the project's expections. He expressed concern that the current supply of satellite capacity will not be able to accomodate the growing demand before NBN launches the first of its two satellites in 2015.

The two NBN broadband satellites cost a total of $620 million. The plan is to launch them half a year apart.

In the meantime, NBN Co is considering launching the full interim service earlier than planned. Mr. Quigley noted that NBN has already acquired a significant percentage of the limited amount of satellite capacity that Australia can tap for satellite broadband services.

Telefonica Chooses the KA-SAT of Eutelsat for Internet Service

Telefonica Global Solutions, a Spanish broadband and telecommunications provider, will be making use of the high-performance KA-SAT satellite of Eutelsat to provide high quality satellite broadband services to carriers all throughout Europe.

The company intends on utilizing the capacity of KA-SAT to suggest solutions to European carriers that are as dependable and competitive in prices as terrestrial broadband services. Telefonica Global Solutions also aims on bringing high-speed Internet service to carriers all over Europe, especially in areas that cannot be reached by terrestrial broadband networks, such as urban belts or rural areas that do not have access to terrestrial with fully diversified backup solutions.

In a statement, Telefonica Director of the Satellite Services Business Unit José Antonio Guerra said, “The bid for Eutelsat Ka-band is the logical step for the evolution of the business of data communications via satellite in Europe, where land-based infrastructures have increasing capillarity. KA-SAT will allow us to offer high quality services at competitive prices, allowing us to update our catalogue of services for operators and corporations. It also allows us to complement the overall strategy of the Telefonica Group providing another access technology for services such as M2M or iHealth.”

U.S Government Refurbishes ViaSat Broadband Airborne Satcom Services Contract

Direct Broadcast Satellite company ViaSat will be providing broadband airborne satcom services to a customer from the U.S government, under a valued $52 million one year contract.

This renewal is for the services established back in 2009 which made use of ViaSat ArcLight technology over a managed private network to support military mission for the War on Terror. The systems of ViaSat mobile broadband are specifically created to provide media-rich ISR, C2, as well as other applications with high-speed, beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) communications. Typical operational data rates utilize Ku- and Ka-band satcom links and range from one to eight Mbps off over 300 government aircraft.

The same terminals can function on the Yonder global satellite network, giving the network a higher priority regional service overlays with a variety of performance and connectivity options.

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Telesat wants partners for its satellite broadband proposal in Northern Canada

Telesat states that the positive results of its recent live satellite broadband trials in Iqaluit proved that satellite services can help bridge the bandwidth gaps plaguing Northern Canada.

The Canadian satellite operator led a team of local communications technology providers to deliver advanced satellite broadband services to residential, government, and business customers in Iqaluit.

These bandwidth gaps were first identified by the Arctic Communications Infrastructure Assessment (ACIA) Report of 2011. Telesat asserts that the technology and the satellite capacity to resolve these shortcomings are now available for implementation.

The Company suggested a public/private collaboration with territorial, provincial, and federal governments as well as other interested parties who want to improve the availability and quality of broadband services in Northern Canada.

Telesat offered to invest CAD 40 million as part of its proposed collaboration to deliver advanced satellite broadband services in the North. The Company expects that its successful demonstrations in Iqaluit will spur the implementation of broadband services as early as 2013.

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HCIL will deploy satellite broadband network for 3000 bank branches in India

Hughes Communications India, Ltd (HCIL) won a five-year, $6 million contract from C-Edge. HCIL will be deploying a satellite broadband network and managed services that will link together more than 3,000 branches of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in India.

HCIL will connect various District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) and State Apex banks in India. The first phase of the new satellite broadband network will be implemented in the Indian states of Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

Hughes will also deploy 3,000 HN9200 VSAT terminals as part of the significant banking project. The Company will further provide shared Network Operations Center (NOC) services such as backhaul, hosting, end-to-end IPSec management, and satellite bandwidth.

A joint venture of the State Bank of India (SBI) and TATA Consultancy Services (TCS,) C-Edge intends to reengineer the business processes of more than 140 banks in India. It also seeks to transform the information technologies used by those same banks. C-Edge selected the unique solution employed by HCIL to optimize its customers' technology, security, cost, and operations.

HCIL offers a wide range of satellite broadband networking technologies, solutions, and services, including managed services. Its solutions can meet every communication challenge faced by Indian businesses and governments.

MP champions rural areas in British push for national broadband

A member of the British Parliament urges the government to devote special attention to rural areas plagued with abysmal ADSL connections for its national broadband plan.

MP Graham Stuart, the representative of Beverley and Holderness, has encouraged his constituents to raise whatever issue they have with their access to fast and reliable Internet.

In an interview with ITV News, Mr. Stuart expressed his belief that the government must assist regions that lack a strong commercial incentive to provide broadband. This can come in the form of more traditional optic fiber and wireless services, as well as the new satellite Internet option.

Mr. Stuart took heart in the recent decision by the European Union to approve Britain's plan to provide broadband connectivity to rural regions. The MP urged that the government begin ensuring broadband access in rural areas within the East Riding.

There is a concern that small and medium-sized enterprises in Britain might lag behind their foreign counterparts if they do not receive a chance to partake of the digital advancements of recent years, innovations such as broadband Internet by satellite and other, more traditional ways of delivering connectivity.

DirecTV announces pricing, discount for ViaSat satellite Internet bundles

DirecTV recently revealed the pricing for its Exede satellite broadband bundle provided by ViaSat. In addition, it decided to promote its new high-speed satellite Internet service by implementing a $10 monthly discount across the board.

According to DirecTV, the monthly price for the 12 Mbps Exede satellite broadband service will be $39.99 for 10GB of data, $69.99 for 15GB, and $119.99 for 25GB.

The $10 discount will apply for the first half of a two-year contract. Customers will must sign up for the Exede satellite Internet bundle before January 31, 2013.

As a further incentive, DirecTV will also refund the $49.99 installation fee.

Satellite broadband companies generally impose data caps on customers' satellite Internet bundles. To compensate for those data caps, DirectTV will allow Exede users to access the Internet between midnight and 5 A.M. Using the Internet during such off-hours will not count against their data cap. This is best used to deal with any streaming needs such as Windows updates.

South Africa, looking for 100% broadband penetration through satellites

The South African government’s goal of a broadband penetration rate of 100% across the country may become a reality but not on fibre optic and fixed wireless alone. According to the Department of Communications, satellite technology will play a crucial role in the national broadband project, as traditional terrestrial networks cannot cover remote regions and rural communities.

Norman Munzhelele, the General Manager of the department, said that satellite communications can be used to increase the present 30% nationwide coverage to 75%, although speeds will be limited using the said technology, and installation may be more costly.

Still, experts agree that satellite services are far more cost-effective as a broadband solution to huge tracts of rural regions. The CEO of Avanti Communications agree that telecom operators will find it uneconomical to lay down fibre networks in remote regions with few population compared to urban areas. Mobile operators in Africa, however, are still hurdling the challenge of remote connectivity that is integrated with national networks.

US Govt picks ViaSat for broadband services

The US Government has awarded communications provider ViaSat a multimillion dollar contract to supply satellite broadband solutions to US military aircraft. According to the California-based company, the new agreement will see ViaSat providing an all-IP service plan that would enable “access to NIPR, SIPR, and commercial Internet, as well as voice-over-IP and video-teleconferencing sessions during transcontinental or transoceanic flights.” 

The company also stated that the broadband by satellite service will be using its intelligent, spread spectrum modem technology known as the ArcLight system. The Arclight resolves mobile communications problems by eliminating blocked signals, and working with other services in the same frequency band. 

ViaSat said that the contract is a one-year agreement with options to include other aircrafts to the satellite broadband service, as well as create supplemental services. Some of the military aircraft included in the service are C-130s, C-17s and MC12s.

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NBN on target to connect over 280,000 premises by mid-2013

The NBN Co has announced that it is on schedule to connect the 286,000 premises passed by the company, by June 30 of next year. At present, the company has hooked up over 25,000 premises to the national project, with 600 on fixed wireless, 17,000 on the interim satellite service, and 6400 connected to fibre. 

Jim Hassell, the head of NBN’s product development and sales, presented to the Senate Estimates committee yesterday the numbers. Out of the 17,000 on the satellite services, 9000 were former customers of the Australian Broadband Guarantee, while 8000 were said to be new customers. ABG initially offered internet on satellite to clients regardless of their location. The government initiative ended June 30 of last year after delivering broadband access to remote regions across the country. 

Senator Stephen Conroy who is also the broadband minister said that the NBN Co was already on track to hit the overall 785,000 target they announced earlier this year. For 2012, the company is planning to connect 54,300 premises. 

According to Hassell, customer take-up of the broadband services have differed from initial forecasts with over 44% opting for the 100/40 mbps. NBN Co had only expected 18% consumer take-up on the project’s highest speed offerings.

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Hughes Europe, Bentley Walker plan Ka-band satellite services for Middle East

The Middle East will soon gain new satellite broadband capacity courtesy Hughes Europe and Bentley Walker. The two companies entered a new agreement for the provision of high-speed communications services in the region via the Avanti Hylas 2 Ka-band satellite.

This is the latest joint endeavor between long-standing partners Hughes Europe and Bentley Walker. Hughes will provide three additional Gateway NOCs -two of which are the latest HX System 4.0 systems- to Bentley Walker. The NOCs will allow resellers to create local Virtual Network Operators (VNOs) that can deliver SATCOM services such as Internet-on-satellite and VoIP calls.

Bentley Walker will use its new Hughes-supplied NOCs to enhance its current portfolio of Ka-band broadband services. The company currently provides US military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan with satellite broadband communications services for purposes of morale, welfare, and recreation.

In addition to higher throughput speeds, the new Ka-band service planned by Hughes and Bentley Walker can operate using a smaller satellite antenna. This will help keep costs down and ensure an easy upgrade path for existing users.

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Signalhorn secures AMOS-5 Ku-band capacity from Spacecom for African broadband solutions

Satellite operator Spacecom recently announced that it will provide Ku-band capacity from its AMOS-5 communications satellite to Signalhorn for the latter company's broadband Internet-by-satellite services in the African market.

Based in Europe, Signalhorn offers satellite communications solutions to customers in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. It will use the new capacity it acquired from Spacecom to provide satellite broadband connectivity to Southern African retail businesses.

According to Signalhorn, its tailored enterprise communications solution requires a high-speed Internet-by-satellite service that can be reliably accessed throughout a majority of Southern Africa. Signalhorn selected the AMOS-5 Ku-band platform operated by Spacecom to help the former company deliver end-to-end solutions to its clients.

Spacecom and Signalhorn joined forces in developing a data communications solution that can cover Africa. AMOS-5 once more places itself at the service of communication service providers and broadcasters throughout the southern half of the African continent.

Entering commercial operations in January 2012, AMOS-5 serves as a prime carrier of African satellite communications traffic. From its 17°E orbital slot, the Spacecom satellite directs C-band and Ku-band beams that deliver broadcast and data services throughout Africa on behalf of companies like Signalhorn.

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Cisco partners with Inmarsat, builds satellite service delivery platform

Inmarsat and Cisco recently announced that they are entering a long-term Global Partnership. The two companies will use Inmarsat’s Global Xpress satellite broadband network to deliver applications, business collaboration, video-to-multimedia content, and other advanced satellite communications services.

Cisco will develop a satellite applications service delivery platform and an access network for Global Xpress that will take advantage of the Inmarsat network’s capability to provide mobile Ka-band connectivity. Cisco will also create a router that satellite network end-users can use to access both the GX Ka-band network  and the BGAN L-band network.

The Cisco-designed network is scheduled to be introduced in 2014. Before it is turned over to Inmarsat, the new satellite network will be operated by Cisco on a fully managed basis. Advanced network capabilities such as voice, video, cloud application services and high speed Internet access will be enabled by Cisco’s Service Delivery Platform and Prime software stacks.

Inmarsat and its partners will develop and remotely deploy innovative applications on Cisco’s GX/BGAN integrated platform, which will deliver the new services across the entire Inmarsat network.

According to Rupert Pearce, Chief Executive Officer of Inmarsat plc, the Company’s Partnership with Cisco was an important part of Inmarsat’s future plans. Cisco will create world-class infrastructure that Inmarsat and the latter’s partners can use to offer services not limited to providing Internet-from-satellite connectivity.

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Jake's DTV Blog: Dish Network launching expanded satellite broadband service

Jake's DTV Blog: Dish Network launching expanded satellite broadband service

Dish Network debuts dishNET satellite broadband service

Starting this October, Dish Network will be bringing their much-touted Ku-band satellite broadband services to American customers. Its new Internet-from-satellite service is called dishNET and is rolled into Dish’s satellite TV service. Customers who subscribe to both services will get a monthly discount of $10.

In an announcement, Mr. Joseph Clayton, CEO of Dish Network, said that the company was launching a “revolutionary” consumer broadband service that will bring high-speed Internet to rural markets nationwide. “With nearly one-in-four rural residents lacking a high-speed connection, reaching these underserved markets is vital,” he explained. “Our mission is to provide broadband at an outstanding value with fast speeds and large data plans.”

The basic dishNET package offers 5 Mbps download speeds and 1 Mbps upload speeds with a monthly data plan that maxes out at 10 GB. It costs $39.99 a month. Dish’s other satellite broadband Internet service offers double the download speed (10 Mbps) and a maximum data plan of 20 GB while retaining the same 1 Mbps upload speed. The second plan costs an extra $10.

Dish has been able to decrease the price of satellite broadband to make it more economically accessible for rural areas that have made do with DSL connections for the past decade. In addition, dishNET uses the well-established Ku-band to deliver high speeds.

For those leery of inclement weather and other disruptions cutting off their Internet-by-satellite connectivity, Dish Network also offers a wired broadband solution. The most expensive of the three wired options costs as much as the basic dishNET service and has double the download speed and a bigger data plan. Of course, this particular set of broadband Internet options requires a landline connection in the first place.

The new high-speed Internet-on-satellite service will be available wherever Dish Network can deliver its service. Coincidentally, Dish has nationwide coverage, including plenty of rural communities that can now enjoy faster Internet speeds thanks to Dish's new satellite broadband solution.

Honywell, Thales integrating Global Xpress systems for in-flight Internet

Honeywell and Thales Alenia Space issued a joint announcement on September 21 regarding their newly-formed partnership. Honeywell will integrate the avionics and satellite antenna systems of its Inmarsat Global Xpress service with Thales’ cabin network solutions to create a Ka-band in-flight connectivity service.

Honeywell and Thales will leverage the Ka-band broadband capacity of Global Express to offer in-flight connectivity bandwidth of up to four times greater than the current standard. The Inmarsat satellite Internet service will allow for media-rich applications such as virtual office capability, video conferencing, real-time satellite TV channel viewing, and social media connectivity. It will also reportedly be more cost-effective than competitors' in-flight Internet services.

The three Global Xpress Ka-band satellites are currently being built at aerospace company Boeing's facilities in El Segundo, California. The first satellite has been scheduled for a 2013 launch.

Hughes providing HX System 4.0 backhaul solution to Latin American telecom operator

Hughes Network Systems announced that it will be supplying the latest HX System backhaul solution to a large Latin American telecommunications operator. The backhaul update will allow the Latin American telecom to expand the coverage of its GSM and WiMAX wireless voice and data services, letting it serve customers in remote regions.

Hughes has provided the HughesNet high-speed satellite Internet service and associated systems to over 2.8 million users in 100 nations. The satellite broadband provider's Solutions include IPoS/DVB-S2, RSM-A, and GMR-1.

Hughes' solutions have received approvals from the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI,) International Telecommunications Union (ITU,) and other similar standardization bodies.

The Latin American telecommunications operator previously acquired the HX System in 2009 as an upgrade of its existing DVB-S network to Hughes' enhanced DVB-S2 platform. Hughes' HX System backhaul solution provided the telecom enterprise with better voice quality and high data throughputs through a combination of a dynamic bandwidth allocation protocol and low traffic latency and jitter.

More than one million satellite broadband terminal sites use the HX System satellite networking infrastructure. The system is fully compliant with the IP over Satellite (IPoS) global standard. Its latest version is the HX System 4.0 platform, which Hughes will use to upgrade the Latin American telecom customer's network.

Recently released by Hughes, the 4.0 version of the HX System offers high-speed IP services over satellite. It is fully compatible with various multi-media, video, data, and voice applications.

Satellite broadband contributes to online education

Most people think satellites are only used in the broadcasting industry, aviation, and even military missions. But the advent of satellite broadband technology has made its effect even more widespread. Today, millions of people rely on the transmission of vessels orbiting the earth. 

Aside from making it possible to watch TV shows from other countries, satellite technology is also delivering online education in remote regions. Many communities, especially those in developing countries, are inaccessible by road, or are situated in areas where large-scale terrestrial communications network cannot be constructed.

In such situations, satellite broadband via VSAT has been the ideal solution. Now, the system can be conveniently deployed with minimal interference on the environment. Students in remote regions can stream educational videos via Internet, and teachers can finally access more information online. Internet by satellite enables computers to connect to a host of resources that are usually cut off because of the location.

Soon, satellite broadband will penetrate more remote regions, and improve the lives of people in communities often cut off from the rest of the world. With wireless communications technology improving, and with the rise of more powerful mobile devices, our connected world can enjoy easier transfer of information, as well as more powerful and convenient online education. 

Communications provider JRC partners with Inmarsat for Global Xpress launch

In a recent announcement, Inmarsat reported that it was renewing and expanding its strategic maritime partnership with Japanese-based communications provider JRC in preparation for the 2014 launch of Inmarsat's Global Xpress satellite broadband platform.

According to Frank Coles, President, Inmarsat Maritime, Inmarsat has always closely integrated its products with the best hardware and antenna manufacturers for the best connectivity solutions.

“Our fourth generation satellite service, the FleetBroadband platform,” Mr. Coles cited as an example, “has rested heavily on reliable providers like JRC. We are now delighted to extend our partnership with JRC and together develop connectivity solutions for the Global Xpress programme, which will become operational during 2014."

He added that Inmarsat continues to develop intuitive products for the shipping market by integrating its next-generation high throughput services (HTS) with hardware solutions that have proven their reliability and quality.

As a trusted Inmarsat partner since 2005, JRC provides both products and support services for Inmarsat's FleetBroadband maritime communications platform. The partnership will be extended to encompass the new Global Xpress satellite broadband program as well.

JRC and Inmarsat will develop cost-efficient, compact, and easy-to-install solutions for the shipping industry. High-speed connectivity to be provided by Inmarsat's future fleet of Ka-band satellites.

SES Broadband Service set to start late this year

November 2012 will witness the launch of SES Broadband Service (SBBS,) a Ka-band satellite broadband service that will offer up to 20Mbit/s downloads and up to 2Mbps upload.

Right now, the ASTRA 2F platform is waiting for September 21, 2012. Once successfully launched, the SES satellite will be parked at the orbital position 28.2 degrees East, the first of four Ka-band satellites that will support SES Broadband'sInternet-by-satellite services.

A cooperation agreement between SES, Gilat Satellite Technologies, and Newtec created both SBBS' hub infrastructure and the means to deliver the end-user terminals to SES' customers.

“With ASTRA 2F and the subsequent launches of ASTRA 2E, ASTRA 5B and ASTRA 2G in 2013 and 2014, we will be able to further expand our satellite broadband service in Europe with the additional Ka-band capacity on our fleet,” said Patrick Biewer, Managing Director of SBBS.

SES’ long-term partners NordNet, Vivéole, and WIBOX will distribute the new satellite Internet service to end-consumers in France. Representatives from those three service providers were excited for the Ka-band satellite broadband service.

“The new service will further increase the attractiveness of satellite broadband,” said Francis Piet, CEO of NordNet, who added that satellite Internet is now 500% faster while costing only half the price it did in 2008.

“Vivéole has been committed to bridging the digital divide since 2005,” Alexandre Séménadisse, CEO of Vivéole, said. “As a long-standing partner of SES, we will soon be able to offer even better solutions to a larger customer base.”

“The fact that satellite technology has constantly developed allows us to meet the growing demand for broadband services in the regions,” agreed Thomas Gassiloud, President of WIBOX. “We can now offer services close to the speed of ADSL connections and traffic volumes offering unprecedented freedom of choice for our customers.”

Ireland announces new National Broadband plan with minimum 30Mbps services

Ireland's Communications Minister, Pat Rabbitte, recently outlined a new National Broadband Plan that promises up to 100Mbps for urban dwellers and a minimum of 30-40Mbps for everyone else.

According to Minister Rabbitte, Ireland's new broadband plan will provide speeds of 70Mbps to 100Mbps for half the population, who are concentrated in the urban and suburban areas. This applies to both residential and commercial users.

Another 20 % of the country will get at least 40Mbps. The rest of Ireland -even it's most remotest area- will be entitled to a minimum of 30Mbps.

Ireland is doing its part for the Digital Agenda for Europe, an ambitious broadband program by the European Union. EU member states are expected to publish national broadband plans by the end of 2012; to ensure that all their citizens receive at least 30Mbps of service by 2020; and to bring speeds of 100Mbps to half of the households in the union before 2020 ends.

A good example would be Finland. In 2009, the Scandinavian country made known its plan to ensure a minimum service of 1Mbps by 2010, which in five years would be upgraded to 100Mbps.

In comparison, the United States' National Broadband Plan was released in 2010 and aims for a minimum of 4Mbps for all Americans, a minimum that has yet to be reached.

The Irish government expressed its readiness to spend €175 million ($219 million) in creating broadband infrastructure for rural areas as part of its new National Broadband Plan. The government also clarified that it is not going to purchase Internet access for people. Instead, it will merely ensure that Irishmen across the country will have access to at least the minimum required by the Digital Agenda for Europe by setting up the appropriate fiber optic, wireless, and satellite broadband networks.

How does VSAT work?

Check out this video on what and how VSAT works. We all know how VSAT technology is crucial for internet by satellite to work. In this video, we get an introduction to the system, and which customers VSAT's are ideal for. 
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Gottlieb International compares Global Xpress, EpicNG in its first maritime satellite broadband webinar

Maritime VSAT buyers should sign up for the "The Battle for the Broadband Maritime Customer - Global Xpress vs. EpicNG, the KVH V11, O3b" webinar by Gottlieb International Group. Not only is it free, but it will also provide forecasts on the future of satellite broadband in the maritime industry.

Gottlieb's Market Research and Business Development services help VSAT service providers in structuring, pricing, and marketing their service offerings for upstream markets like the maritime sector.

Its very first webinar will compare Inmarsat's Global Xpress and Intelsat's EpicNG, two competing satellite  communications services which leverage the new Ka-band frequency. Gottlieb will also discuss how the new satellite broadband services offered by two of the sector's biggest VSAT companies will affect the future of the market.

The webinar will take place on September 13, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time. Asian viewers can watch a replay at 9:00 a.m. SGT (Singapore time) on Friday, September 14th.

Interested parties can download the registration page at Gottlieb's home page, filling it up, and either faxing or emailing it back to Gottlieb. The company will provide a link and password to its maritime satellite broadband webinar.

Internet by satellite broadband for rural communities

Many parts of the world have no access to the internet. Even in developed nations, there are still regions which aren't serviced my mobile communications. Majority of these locations cut off from the web are in the rural regions. In remote areas, terrestrial infrastructure cannot easily be built. The geography of far-flung regions poses a challenge: building telephone lines or digging to embed fibre optic cables is not ideal in mountainous region, or vast arid lands; any infrastructure work may also mean degradation of forest areas or resource-rich lands. 

A VSAT System used in Australia's desert communites

In such situations, the most recommended solution would be satellite broadband. Satellite communications, despite the rise of fibre as we can see in NBN projects across the globe, is becoming the most viable alternative to bring the Internet in rural regions. A technology called VSAT has made the deployment of such systems possible, with little interference to a location's geography. Thus, communities found in remote regions like the deserts in Australia, or even the mountain ranges in Nepal, can rely on VSAT systems because little space is required.

The lack of public infrastructure in rural regions mean satellite broadband is often their only option left. The downside to the technology though would be cost and latency issues. Satellite communications technology isn't cheap, since the service you're paying for makes up for the millions of dollars needed to launch a rocket into space. And since the satellites orbit thousands of kilometers above the earth, signal transmitted via VSAT systems to communications ports both on the ground and in space may face delays. 

Luckily, many operators are looking into improving their technology. This would include the rise of more powerful Ka band satellites. Ka band satellite can carry more payloads, and deliver powerful coverage in vast regions. Many satellite broadband systems are already relying on the new spectrum, and soon enough, more operators will be offering the service at a cheaper cost. 

Do you want to learn more about satellite broadband? Check this out see and read about the Two-Types of Satellite Broadband Systems.