Satellite Internet - reviews. Satellite Internet providers. Rates

The level of Internet access in Russia has reached high levels, but the vast areas of our country still do not have access to the worldwide network. There is not enough infrastructure, but satellite Internet can solve the problem of its deficiency. It has a number of advantages over "cable" and mobile communication, it is becoming more affordable, and the equipment providing access to it, over the years, only becomes cheaper and becomes more and more simple to install.

What is Satellite Internet?

Today, access to the Internet is possible via satellite (satellite), the signal from which goes directly to the user's computer, connected to the "plate". This method of access, however, should not be identified with a wired connection to the provider, which itself takes data from the satellite - in this case a trunk canal with incomparably more powerful traffic than with a "dish" is leased. Satellites, as a rule, are located in the geostationary orbit (less often - at medium altitude and low).

Access to the World Wide Web with "plates", as a rule, is comparable in its speed characteristics with broadband lines and far exceeds 3G and GPRS connection methods. What unites the last two types of connection to the satellite Internet is the technology-constrained limitation in traffic volume. However, with tasks such as reading letters, sending documents, working with online banking, the "plate" is quite manageable. It is indispensable beyond the city - where there is no connection from cellular operators or its quality is not enough. Modern equipment for communication with the satellite is becoming more and more simple to operate, the average user does not have any problems with how to connect the satellite Internet independently.

The History of Satellite Internet

The first experiments with access to the Internet via satellite began in the early 90's. The market was offered various technologies, but in the end the access to the World Network via geostationary satellites was chosen - the same class that is used for telephone and television communications. Gradually, the cost of communication equipment decreased in size, the satellite networks ceased to be expensive state prerogative, they began to use business.

As a result, the term "VSAT" (a terminal with a very small aperture), meaning a compact and mobile device for receiving a signal, arose. With the improvement and further reduction in the cost of technology VSAT-modules have become available not only to business, but also to ordinary users, there were even "home" antennas - the same "plates" on the windows, and satellite Internet, reviews of which began to be printed on the press About technologies.

Asymmetric access

Asymmetric access is one of the two main formats for using satellite Internet. It means connecting to the World Wide Web through two different channels in terms of speed and technology, and the "plate" can only be one of them. The second is, as a rule, a terrestrial connection (sometimes with a much lower data rate). The main advantage of asymmetric access is price. Typically, kits for accessing the Internet through the use of this technology are not more expensive than $ 300, and traffic - about 10 cents per 1 MB.

Incoming traffic, thanks to the satellite, is delivered at a very high speed. As a rule, with the same satellite, you can also receive a television signal with the set up equipment (some providers include in the package of services both television and satellite Internet - "Tricolor", for example). The main drawback is the availability of a terrestrial channel, which simply might not be available. The outbound speed depends on what type of connection this will be. It may not be high enough to perform a number of tasks - sending large files, communicating through video calls.

Symmetric access

There is also a symmetrical ("two-way") satellite Internet. Feedback from users about it - the most positive. Within it, the communication kit is equipped not only with a receiving antenna, but also with a device (subscriber station) capable of transmitting a signal to the satellite. It has all the same advantages as the asymmetric version, but there are no disadvantages associated with the second channel. However, the speed of outgoing traffic, as a rule, is lower than that of incoming (not always the subscriber station is quite powerful), but it is enough to comfortably use the basic Internet services.

Among the more significant drawbacks is a very high price, several times higher than that of sets with asymmetric access. But there is an indisputable advantage: on the Internet you can actually go from anywhere on the planet. Fans of round-the-world expeditions sometimes have no alternatives, except to connect a satellite Internet with symmetric access.

Satellite Internet speed

Standard rates of speed, guaranteed by the tariff provider of satellite Internet, as a rule, not - but the user can expect "incoming" traffic at a level of 5-10 megabits / sec. Either way, it all depends on the degree of congestion of the channel. Interestingly, however, the fact that with the satellite connection, the download speed of different objects is "summed". For example, if a user simultaneously loads 100 pictures, each of which has a capacity of 1 MB, then he will spend the same time as if he were downloading one "megabyte" picture. Incredible, but this is the satellite Internet. Tariffs of providers, by the way, do not take into account this feature and are always calculated on the fact of downloaded data. However, this interesting property depends on the capacity of the terrestrial line, because the satellite will require a response from the computer for each of the received pictures: if it does not follow, the image will not be transmitted. If the equipment supports two-way access, then the speed of the satellite Internet on the outgoing channel is generally comparable to the indicated figures and can reach values of 8 megabits / sec.

Market overview in Russia

Experts note that asymmetric Internet access via satellite has not received proper distribution in Russia. There are a number of reasons for this: first, the lack of the necessary technological infrastructure for providers, secondly, the difficulty of connecting devices, and thirdly, the inadequate development of that very second communication channel across the country. At the same time, the market of two-way satellite access is growing very actively in Russia (although its figures, in comparison with the indicators of the wired Internet, are still small).

There are forecasts that by the end of 2016 the number of Russian users will grow to 35 thousand people. In many respects this trend is connected with the cheapening of equipment, which requires satellite Internet. Feedback from consumers of this service allows many market experts to look at the development of the segment optimistic. Leading providers of this technology see their main target audience of owners of private houses in suburban settlements.

What is a "satellite" better than a "cable"?

We have already mentioned the advantages of geographic coverage. We only note that, according to a number of experts, in many Russian regions, including those located in the European part of the country, there are problems with competing solutions - 3G, fiber.

The most important advantage of satellite communication is the cheaper infrastructure that may be needed to allocate channel resources to other users. Satellite Internet is able to "diversify" access to the World Wide Web, and this property is indispensable, primarily for businesses. Including those who work in cities: it often happens that the provider denies the work, and the opportunity to receive or send important documents on time can be much more important than the cost of installing satellite equipment.

And than, respectively, worse

Firstly, purely physically the antenna works only when it "looks" at the satellite. If, say, the office or user's home is located on a wall opposite to the "flight" of the satellite, then communication can not be established. Secondly, in the exchange of data with the participation of the satellite, there is usually a rather large "ping" (delay of the signal between sending and receiving). This feature can bring discomfort, for example, with audio and video calls, as well as using entertainment services, for which many people go online: a network of gaming "polygons" for fans of multiplayer action games can, for example, with a long response pendant. Thirdly, the IP address of the user who "caught" the satellite does not always correspond to the country and the city where the connection is established. This can interfere with working with Internet services that require accurate geolocation (for example, search engines, social networks). Fourth, many experts are unflattering about security - it is not always high when using satellite Internet. The feedback from specialists indicates potential vulnerabilities in terms of intercepting traffic from the satellite.

Innovative view

Systems of access to the World Wide Web through the satellite, as mentioned above, are constantly becoming cheaper and better. Several years ago, Russian providers set a goal - to create a satellite Internet, the tariffs for which will be comparable to those offered by "wire" operators. The government has allocated several billion rubles for these purposes. These funds were created projects of innovative communication satellites (in total, four of them are planned to be introduced). It also assumes infrastructure on the ground, which will include a control center and several communication stations with satellites.

The project will be managed by the largest state-owned telecommunications companies. With the help of cheap satellite equipment, the government hopes to create a "people's Internet", available in the whole of Russia. The client audience of this service is estimated at 2 million subscribers. People, according to experts, need a satellite Internet, the prices for which will be lower than current market indicators.