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Technology Types

Satellite Internet

Broadband delivered via orbiting satellites, available nearly anywhere but historically limited by high latency and low speeds until the introduction of low-earth orbit constellations.

What It Means

Traditional geostationary satellite internet (e.g., HughesNet, Viasat) orbits at 22,000 miles altitude, causing 600+ ms latency that makes video calls and gaming impractical. SpaceX Starlink changed this by deploying thousands of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites at 340 miles altitude, reducing latency to 20-40 ms with speeds of 50-200 Mbps. Satellite remains the only broadband option for about 2% of U.S. addresses that have no terrestrial providers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "Satellite Internet" mean?

Broadband delivered via orbiting satellites, available nearly anywhere but historically limited by high latency and low speeds until the introduction of low-earth orbit constellations.

Why does Satellite Internet matter for internet quality?

Traditional geostationary satellite internet (e.g., HughesNet, Viasat) orbits at 22,000 miles altitude, causing 600+ ms latency that makes video calls and gaming impractical. SpaceX Starlink changed this by deploying thousands of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites at 340 miles altitude, reducing laten...

Related Terms

Fiber Optic (FTTH)
Internet delivered via glass or plastic strands that transmit data as pulses of light, offering the fastest and most reliable residential connections available.
Cable Internet (DOCSIS)
Broadband delivered over coaxial cable TV lines using the DOCSIS protocol, typically offering 100-1,200 Mbps download but significantly slower upload speeds.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
Internet service delivered over traditional copper telephone lines, with speeds that degrade significantly over distance from the provider's central office.
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)
Broadband delivered wirelessly from a cell tower or base station to an antenna at the customer's location, using 4G LTE or 5G signals.

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About This Data

Definitions based on FCC standards, industry specifications, and federal broadband policy. Speed benchmarks reflect 2024 FCC standards. See our methodology.