Traditional satellite internet was slow and laggy. A newer generation of low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites, orbiting much closer to the planet, offers faster speeds and much lower delay. Several providers now offer service to businesses, and more constellations are being built.

Where it fits

– Remote or rural sites with poor or no fibre, cable, or cellular coverage

– Temporary locations: construction sites, events, and field operations

– Mobile operations: vehicles, vessels, and equipment

– Backup connectivity for critical sites, so an outage on the main line doesn’t stop the business

– Disaster recovery, where ground infrastructure may be damaged

Strengths

– Fast deployment: often a self-installed dish and a power supply

– Coverage in places where other options are unavailable

– Performance that is good enough for video calls, cloud apps, and VoIP at many sites

Limitations

– Performance varies with congestion, location, and plan

– Obstructions and weather: the dish needs a clear view of the sky, and heavy snow or storms can affect service

– Latency is far better than older satellite service but still typically higher and less consistent than good fibre

– Cost: equipment and monthly plans can be higher than wired service in cities

– Data policies: check priority levels, caps, and what happens when you exceed them

– Dependence on a single provider’s network

Business-grade checklist

1. Choose a business plan with appropriate priority and support

2. Protect it: place a business firewall behind the terminal, use a VPN for site-to-site connections, and keep firmware updated

3. Plan power: include a UPS, and generator or battery backup where needed

4. Mount carefully for clear sky view and snow or ice management

5. Combine with other links (cellular or wired) through a failover router

6. Monitor performance and set realistic expectations

7. Read contract terms, including roaming and relocation rules

Security reminders

A satellite link is still an internet connection. Apply the same controls: segmentation, MFA, and monitoring.

DBR Soft can design resilient connectivity for remote sites, including satellite and cellular failover. Contact us for more information.