Developments in Satellite Internet Technology Paves Way for Better Online Education in Remote Areas

The launch of the widespread reach of high-speed internet, coupled with the lockdown due to the pandemic, left the internet as the only medium of education at the time. This has caused a sharp rise in the demand for E-learning portals all over the country. Unquestionably, the use of internet services to impart education has transformed the realm of the traditional education sector. Teachers can now carry out a seamless exchange of information and resources with the students over E-learning platforms.

Currently, the next big step in the world of satellite internet services is the rollout of 5G network services. Multinational telecom giants such as Reliance Jio and Starlink have made strides to bring satellite internet to remote parts of the country where cable and fibre internet have yet to reach. A satellite internet connection uses satellites orbiting in space to provide high-speed internet connections.

The frontrunner in the race is Hughes Communications India, and it has announced the launch of its first high throughput satellite (HTS) broadband internet service in India in September in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The mission of this program is to provide satellite internet services in remote areas of India.

ISRO's geosynchronous satellites - GSAT-11 and GSAT-29 will be used for the service. The Indian space agency launched the two satellites in 2018 with the goal of providing higher bandwidth satellite connectivity. Following the launch, K Sivan, then-chairman of ISRO, stated that the satellite was capable of providing a peak data bandwidth of 14 Gbps via satellite networks. Hughes Communications India's service, according to reports, can provide internet connectivity bandwidth of up to 100Mbps. Notably, Bharti Airtel was the first company in India to launch 5G services in October.

The main advantage of satellite internet service is that it can reach remote locations where cable and fibre internet are inaccessible. Here's how it works: The internet service provider (ISP) sends internet signals to satellites first. They are then returned to the user and intercepted by the satellite dish, which is connected to a modem, which aids in the signal on the user's computer.

Despite such sophisticated technology employed, it has several drawbacks when compared to cable and fibre internet. In comparison, satellite internet is significantly slower than cable internet. This may not affect simple tasks such as web browsing and email in a major way,  but it can be a significant disadvantage for tasks such as online gaming.

Satellite internet has a high latency, which means that the time between sending and receiving signals is longer. Additionally, it is more expensive than cable and fibre internet. However, this varies across countries due to vastly different data tariffs. Weather conditions may also disrupt satellite services, but the disruption may be minor.

Experts predict the satellite internet market will continue to expand; it was $2.93 billion in 2020 and is expected to rise to $18.59 billion by 2030.

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