Comparing Satellite and Cable Internet

If you’re tired of using dial up or DSL phone services for an internet connection, then you have three other options: cable Internet, satellite Internet or cellular Internet.  Since WWAN Internet tends to be slower and more inconvenient (at least for heavy PC use) we are going to focus on cable vs. satellite Internet technologies.


Both of these services offer high speed Internet connections.  Both services offer bandwidth and connection speeds that are much faster than dialup services.   Cable Internet is a form of broadband Internet access that uses the cable television infrastructure.   Cable Internet services require a modem to be at the customer’s premises, which will connect to a CMTS (Cable Modem Termination System) at a cable operator facility.  This is a different technology than satellite Internet, which communicates from a satellite dish outside a consumer’s home to a satellite in geostationary orbit.


This immediately brings to mind two advantages satellite Internet has over cable Internet.  First, a satellite Internet connection is not limited to a physical location or region.  You could keep a satellite Internet going strong across 99% of the United States.  This makes satellite Internet ideal for RVers, boaters or travelers constantly on the move.  Additionally, because satellite Internet establishes a connection directly from dish to satellite, they are spared the extra taxes and fees associated with using towers, ground cables and other miscellaneous utilities.  


Speed wise, the actual connection speeds vary according to the service provider.  For example, services that use VAST systems may offer a 512 KPS upload and a 2 MBPS download.  There might also be upload speeds anywhere from the range of 128, to 200 to 300 or 500 KBPS.  Download speeds could be between 700 KBPS, 1 MBPS, 1.5 MBPS and 2 MBPS.  Cable Internet models are capable of reaching slightly higher speeds; however, the majority of customers will use between 700 KBPS to 2 MBPS, and in this respect satellite Internet offers the same quality service as cable.  Chances are, you are using a modem speed of less than 1 MBPS right now.


Satellite Internet is usually not available in rural areas or in locations that aren’t nearby a Cable Modem Termination System.  (Usually found in the middle of a metropolitan area)  Keep in mind that with a satellite connection, you will need two modems in order to both upload and download data to the World Wide Web.  You must also be conscious of the weather, as very strong storms could impact a satellite’s connection.  However, when it comes to total downtime, satellite Internet is equal to cable Internet in keeping an uptime of close to 100%.


There are advantages and disadvantages to both services.  However, if you are feeling unsure about choosing between DSL or cable, know that there is another option.  Satellite Internet is not as expensive as you might have heard, nor is it as slow as some sources suggest.   It’s about equal with cable technology and about the same monthly price.  Satellite Internet is becoming a major competitor in the Internet wars of the 2000 era.