Satellite Communications

Overview of VSAT communications

VSAT communications use geostationary satellites to convey data among terrestrial sites.
Typically,

  1. A VSAT Hub (central station) inter-connects multiple remote sites via bi-directional digital satellite communications;
  2. The VSAT Hub communicates with the customer central office network via secure and redundant direct link (closed network).

Advantages of VSAT communications

Quality of Service

  • Closed network, independent from terrestrial communication infrastructure (not affected by traffic congestion problems in public networks)
  • Flexible and consistent management of network resources (e.g. traffic prioritization)

Security

  • Inaccessible from public internet, built-in encryption

Availability

  • Built-in mechanisms ensure service availability in case of adverse weather conditions

Reliability

  • Very few communication links involved and inside the same service provider (e.g. terrestrial networks many times involve multiple service providers and hopes)
  • Extensively use satellite communications for their critical operations (e.g. military)

Uniform Service

  • Global and uniform coverage of satellites ensure similar levels of service over multi-nation areas