:: VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal)

Advances in digital processing, and the introduction of higher powered satellites with more efficient antennas have permitted the introduction of the low-cost small earth station, known as VSAT (1.8m or less) which has led to the establishment of numerous satellite networks. It describes a small terminal that can be used for one-way and/or interactive communications via satellite. VSAT networks offer value-added satellite-based services capable of supporting the Internet, data, video, LAN, voice/fax communications, and can provide powerful, dependable private and public network communications solutions. They are becoming increasingly popular, because VSATs are a single, flexible communications platform that can be installed quickly and cost effectively to provide telecoms solutions for consumers, governments and corporations.

The benefits of VSAT technology are being realized in many sectors, both private and public. From banks to administrations, schools, hospitals, and rural telecommunications, VSATs are being seized upon to elevate economic, educational, and health standards. Applications include:

Interactive Data: Corporate networks, point-of-sale terminal to host, inventory checks, financial data transfer and process control, public networks, database access, enquiry-response, X.25 packet networks.

System control and data distribution - corporate networks, process control, pipeline monitoring and flow control, resource monitoring and control, electric power grid control.

Broadcast Data: Commercial or corporate networks; transmission at different rates of database information, news, stock market reports, weather reports, etc.

Business Video: Broadcast networks with intra- and inter-company distribution of high quality video, audio and data for news, sales, marketing, training, personnel management, etc.

VSATs have been in use for more than 10 years and, with more than 500,000 systems operating in more than 120 countries, VSATs are a mature and proven technology.

The main cost of the VSAT solution is the earth station, which represents about 60 percent of overall expenditure, while maintenance and space segment costs make up the remaining 40 percent. Progress has been made – over the last 20 years the price of the earth station has fallen from around US$15,000 to US$5,000.

Related Information

 Two-Way Satellite Internet

 One-Way Satellite Internet

 Two-way Mobile VSAT

 Virtual Private Network (VPN)