All over the world, VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) communications systems team up with wireless satellite Internet networks to provide Internet access, IP data transmissions, Voice over IP and videoconferencing traffic to countries that otherwise might not be able to access these services. Read on to learn how VSAT and wireless (WiFi and WiMAX) networks combine to create a rural hot spot or a Wireless ISP and distribute Internet access locally to subscribers.

A VSAT system is a small fixed dish providing a link to a satellite-based communication network. Because VSAT satellite dishes can connect homes and business locations regardless of distance, VSAT represents a cost-effective solution for those who want a virtual private network to connect a large number of geographically dispersed sites, even in remote locations such as Iraq, Afghanistan or parts of Africa.

Using a satellite VSAT system as the primary backbone for a rural Internet hot spot or WISP being, satellite-based network solutions bypass terrestrial last mile gridlock, providing homes, businesses, corporations or army units - no matter where they're located - with always-on, wireless satellite Internet access.

VSAT communications deliver all the benefits of high speed IP networking without the constraint of landlines, and offer a number of advantages over terrestrial alternatives. For example, companies can have total control of their own communication system without dependence on other companies, ensuring total privacy. Business and home users also get higher speed reception than if using ordinary telephone service or ISDN.

By using TCP acceleration built into VSAT service modems, users can deploy secured and accelerated SSL/TLS based VPN networks over satellite, without having to invest in VPN acceleration appliances. Enterprise networks can leverage full Mesh topology VSAT service to have direct secured single satellite hop VoIP and Video over IP communications channel between branches bypassing the Hub, with guaranteed QoS. This eliminates overhead costs, thereby allowing lower operating expenditures for better level of service. At the same time, the VSAT services technology many satellite Internet providers offer supports QoS that can be fully mapped to LSP of the ground segment MPLS backbone.

To deliver VSAT services, satellite Internet providers employ a range of Ku and C-Band geostationary satellite spacecrafts from a number of esteemed operators such as Eutelsat, Telesat and Intelsat. This provides worldwide service availability to support all connectivity demands and extensive VSAT services network growth. With this top-of-the-line satellite Internet equipment and IP technology, broadband satellite Internet can be delivered almost anywhere.

By combining VSAT and wireless satellite Internet networks, voice, data, video and other high bandwidth applications can operate efficiently between corporation headquarters, remote sites and field locations, forming an integrated wide area network. Whatever the need, whether it is fast and reliable access to a Web-based applications server, basic Internet access, guaranteed data delivery, or corporate VPN, satellite Internet providers are successfully creating rural hot spots or Wireless ISPs to distribute Internet access locally to subscribers.