What are the options for those living “outside the grid,” those that need internet service in rural areas? One option is home satellite internet service. Many satellite internet companies focus on agricultural sectors as they tend to be underserved in terms of wired services. The challenge Satellite internet service providers face is that their customers’ information is downloaded in bursts, so anything requiring real-time updates (VoIP, online games, instant messaging) will be problematic. Also with satellite, good service is weather dependent. Clouds and rainy weather can cause dropped connections and slow speeds. Satellite also tends to be more expensive than conventional wireless services. Although it is impressive to consider the deployment of broadband from outer space, satellite technology provides significantly lesser levels of total bandwidth to its users. Should a satellite customer exceed their contractual usage limits, the consequence are speeds being reduced to dial up levels for as much as three days. So while satellite companies may be advertising central coast internet solutions, depending on your usage, it may not be the best solution.
