Q: What is VSAT?
VSAT stands for Very Small Aperture Terminal. It is a type of communication technology based on a two-way satellite ground station with a small dish antenna. VSAT delivers reliable and constant connectivity.
Q: What are the benefits of VSAT?
VSAT can connect you across a broad range of industries and geo locations. It gives you access to enterprise, voice, video and data applications, wherever you are.
The VSAT solution works irrespective and independent of any other network.
Benefits of Satellite
People need access to enterprise-class, high-speed voice, video and data applications wherever they happen to be. Satellite connectivity has the power to drive communications advances across a broad range of industries and geographies.
Whether it’s a ship-to-short maritime communications, Internet access for remote, rural classrooms, or vital data and communications for petroleum operations, satellite applications meet a broad range of needs.
iDirect’s communication platform enables any IP application to run reliably and efficiently over satellite. iDirect’s advanced technology provides organizations with immediate global reach – making mission critical communication possible in the most challenging and diverse environments.
Communication satellites are used in fixed or mobile wireless communications to receive and transmit radio signals from an orbiting satellite to another terrestrial location. There have been such advances in bandwidth utilization and reliability of communications that satellite service now provides affordable, always-on, high-speed, quality connectivity.
Global Coverage (African Wide Coverage)
Today, satellite communication can deliver a terrestrial-grade experience with voice, video and data that can be accessed anywhere in the world. Ubiquitous coverage can be obtained with a global network of multiple satellites all tying it no one central network management system.
Reliability
Satellite networks are dependable, providing constant connectivity even when terrestrial networks fail. With satellite networks, enterprises can maintain business continuity with built-in redundancy and automatic back-up service.
Security
Satellite networks already constitute a private network. By adding encryption technology satellite can provide a more secure connection than terrestrial networks, making it an ideal solution for government, military and enterprise VPN (virtual private network) solutions.
Scalability
The modularity of VSAT systems allows for quick time-to-market and fast upgrades. VSAT remotes can be deployed rapidly and new remote locations are easily added to a network where limited terrestrial infrastructure exists simply by configuring bandwidth to the site and having ground equipment installed.
Fast Deployment
Satellite technology is an ideal solution for quick deployment, immune to the challenges posed by difficult terrain remote locations, harsh weather, and terrestrial obstacles. In this rapidly expanding market, satellite allows a service provider to get to market quickly and efficiently and provide immediate connectivity in disaster and emergency relief scenarios.
Cost Savings
Satellite technology can deliver a communications infrastructure to areas where terrestrial alternatives are unavailable, unreliable or simply too expensive. Satellite allows service providers to insure scalability, profitability and maintain low operating expenses, all while overcoming a lack of existing infrastructure.
SATELLITE BASICS PDF
Q: What is Ku-Band and C-Band
These are different frequency ranges on which VSAT can operate:
- C-Band operates on 4-6 GHz, with a larger antenna. The minimum antenna size is 1.8 m. C-Band networks perform well under all weather conditions.
- Ku-Band operates on 11-13 GHz. The minimum antenna size is 1.2 m. Ku-Band networks are affected by heavy rain, especially in tropical areas.
Q: Will I have coverage?
Yes, Paratus VSAT covers the whole of Namibia.
Q: What do I need for a VSAT connection?
The Remote VSAT Terminal consists of an antenna and a modem. The antenna is installed on the outside of the building and needs clear a line of site to the satellite. The modem is kept indoors and has an Ethernet interface for connecting to the local network.
Q: How long does it take to set up VSAT?
VSAT is a quick deployment, requiring only the installation of the antenna and set up of the modem. VSAT is immune to challenges like terrain and/or geo location.
Q: Is VSAT expensive?
VSAT can deliver communication to areas where terrestrial options are unavailable, unreliable or simply too expensive. Only local infrastructure is needed.
Q: Why is latency so high and what issues can I expect?
Latency over the VSAT is >550 ms. This is the time that the signal takes to travel from the earth to the satellite and back. Most applications (http, voice and video) will not be affected by the latency. Operating over a remote desktop can overcome latency issues for applications that are latency critical.
Q: How reliable is VSAT?
VSAT is very reliabile, providing constant connectivity even if terrestrial networks fail. VSAT is ideal for business continuity with built-in redundancy and automatic back-up services.