The Internet is a highly potent tool that people who live in urban areas often take for granted. The widespread availability of reliable and high-speed Internet providers makes it easy for us to stay connected 24/7.
Yet, despite this widespread Internet availability, there is still a massive digital divide in the USA. This digital divide particularly impacts minorities like the large Hispanic population in America.
Hispanic individuals like myself, in addition to living in underserved areas with fewer healthcare, education, and economic opportunities, often face lower access to resources like digital devices and internet connections.
However, a ray of hope has emerged that may potentially help bridge the digital divide that minorities like the Hispanic community in America face on a daily basis. I’m talking about the next step in the evolution of the internet: satellite internet.
Satellite internet is a step forward in ensuring reliable internet connectivity for people living in underserved or remote areas where a traditional infrastructure is lacking or unavailable.
This article will explore all you need to know about this new form of internet, exploring what it is, its pros and cons, as well as how it can reshape the future as we know it.
What is Satellite Internet?
To put it simply, satellite internet is a type of internet service that uses satellites orbiting around the earth to provide internet connectivity to users. The first form of commercial satellite internet connectivity was launched in 1996 by Hughes Network Systems, with the name DirecPC; however, today, you may know it by the name HughesNet.
Today, there are multiple satellite internet providers in the USA that can help Hispanic families stay connected, with the top choices being Hughesnet, Viasat, and Starlink.
Depending on your needs, you can choose the one that best suits you. Personally, I’d recommend Hughesnet since they have the most affordable plans with a relatively higher level of reliability. You can reach out to Hughesnet servicio al cliente en español for a reliable and affordable satellite internet plan.
Below is a breakdown of how the technology works:
- You open and request data from a website.
- Your request is sent to a modem, then to a satellite dish on your property.
- The dish transfers the request up to a satellite in a low or high orbit around the earth.
- The satellite transfers the request back down to the control center of your provider.
- The control center passes on the request to the website.
- The website then transfers the requested data back to the control center.
- The control center sends the information back to your dish.
- The dish then passes the signal to your modem, which translates it into internet data on your screen.
There are just a few simple conditions that you must take care of to ensure optimal results. First, you’ll need an electricity supply to keep your dish powered. Secondly, your dish must be placed in a position that provides a clear and uninterrupted view of the sky. That’s about it!
The best part, satellite internet does not rely on ground-based technologies like fiber, cable, or phone networks. These technologies aren’t available in rural areas since the population in these areas is often low, which means that providers must spread their network over more ground to get people online, costing them significantly more.
By preventing the use of such ground-based technologies altogether, satellite Internet helps people enjoy reliable Internet connectivity in rural or underdeveloped areas where these ground-based infrastructures are unavailable or costly to implement.
The potential of satellite internet in bridging the digital divide is unmatched, evident with the range of benefits it provides. Nevertheless, like with any groundbreaking technology, there are some downsides to it as well, and the next section explores both aspects.
Pros and Cons of Satellite Internet
It’s always better to start things on a positive note, which is why I’ll first be exploring the pros of satellite internet in this section, followed by the cons.
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Pros of Satellite Internet
- Extensively available across America, even in underdeveloped, rural, and remote areas
- Speeds match broadband levels and continue to show improvement
- Offers instant connectivity after natural disasters
- Cost-effective replacement to mobile data plans
- Often delivers higher speeds than promised
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Cons of Satellite Internet
- Limited options as there are only a few providers in the industry
- Slower than fiber and cable internet or other wired options
- Most plans require signing long minimum contracts
- Expensive plans and can charge for more data
- Most plans come with data caps
- Connections still have higher latency
- Impacted by adverse weather conditions
The Future of Satellite Internet
Despite certain challenges, the benefits of satellite internet have already made major moves in bridging the digital divide for underserved communities like the Hispanics in the USA, and there is much more to come.
The use of low orbit satellites can help improve the speeds and reduce the latency we currently see in satellite internet, enabling a better experience for those in remote areas.
Additionally, we may witness the rise of 5G networks being used in space to manage data and provide more devices offering reliable and high-speed connectivity.
All these aspects point to the future of satellite internet being a promising one that guarantees to improve the lives of numerous people across the globe.
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