NICE AND EASY: What is “VSAT?”

VSAT is a term that we use at Signal Connect for our internet product. It’s also an industry standard term that’s used generically, but most end users don’t know it very well. So what is it?

It’s basically satellite internet.

VSAT stands for “very small aperture terminal” which, let’s be honest, doesn’t tell you any more than you already knew. So let’s back up a little bit.

Back in the 1960s, the only people who sent information up to satellites were big companies (like the phone company) and big governments. And the used big dishes. We’ve all seen images of those five-meter dishes out in the middle of the desert. With Mad Men technology, that’s what you needed in order to get a signal up 22,000 miles to a tiny little target. But of course, these dishes were expensive and certainly not the sort of things you find in your average backyard.

By the 1980s, with the advent of digital communication, the scientists who think up neat things like satellites had an idea. What if it were possible to use a dish smaller than three meters for two-way satellite communication. That would be pretty impressive, right? I mean, everyone wants a 10-foot dish on their roof, right?

Luckily, the push for miniaturization didn’t stop and be the 2000s it became possible to send and receive digital data with a dish only 60cm (about two feet) wide. That’s doable, right? So companies started selling VSAT service where internet service didn’t make sense. Ever see a funky looking satellite dish on a convenience store roof? That’s so the ATM machine and credit card machines can talk to the outside world… over satellite. Ever see a big dome on a cruise ship? While it could be a lot of things, if the ship offers internet service, they’re doing it through VSAT.

VSAT is available for more people than ever

Today, VSAT isn’t just for big ships. It can be fitted to any craft that can accommodate that 60cm dish, which means most mid-size yachts can qualify. This means internet service even when you’re too far away from cell towers, and if you have a larger yacht, that probably happens a lot. Speeds tend to be “OK” as in you can probably watch Netflix but forget about downloading ripped movies off the internet. If you’re just trying to get email and do a little Amazon shopping, they’re fine.

VSAT service is also good for folks in rural areas who don’t have good internet service. A stationary dish on top of a building can get about 30 megabits down, which isn’t exactly warp speed but it’s better than DSL which is usually the only other option.

Make the right choice

Right now, there’s another company that makes the news a lot offering satellite-based internet. It’s essentially VSAT, but it uses a fleet of small satellites rather than one big one. You know the company… I’m not going to give them free advertising.

Just like you, I’m interested in how that’s going to pan out. Is it going to be a massive success like some of the other products that company owns, or is it going to be a big failure like some of the other products that company used to own? It’s hard to know. It’s a pretty big risk, especially when you’re talking about your all-important internet connection.

I don’t know about you, but when it comes to internet I don’t want to mess around. Luckily, if you need VSAT, you don’t have to go with someone who’s just experimenting. Check out VSAT by Signal Connect. It’s a real, proven solution that’s available to marine and land-based customers right now. Plain and simple, it works.

If you’re ready to find out more, call us at 888-233-7563! We’ll explain the ins and outs of the product and give you pricing options. There are a lot of choices and we’ll make it easy for you to find the right one.

If it’s after hours, fill out the form below! We’ll get back to you, usually within one business day.

About the Author

Stuart Sweet
Stuart Sweet is the editor-in-chief of The Solid Signal Blog and a "master plumber" at Signal Group, LLC. He is the author of over 10,000 articles and longform tutorials including many posted here. Reach him by clicking on "Contact the Editor" at the bottom of this page.