The increase in demand for internet connection in rural and remote areas makes satellite internet more relevant. An example of a provider who provides satellite internet is the Earthlink. Essentially, EarthLink does not offer its satellite internet service provider to its clients directly. What it does is simply rebroadcast satellite internet provided by Viasat under its brand. So when thinking about Earthlink and satellite Internet, a customer needs to know that while Earthlink does provide satellite Internet for its clients, it is not a unique satellite Internet.
What is Satellite Internet?
Satellite internet on the other hand is a service that offers internet connection through satellite signals from space and not cables or DSL. A satellite internet provider puts satellites in orbit around the Earth to transmit internet signals over a large area on the ground.
To gain access to the satellite internet, a small satellite dish is mounted on the facade of a home or business if it has a lane towards the south. The satellite dish is connected to a modem/router inside which transmits a wireless internet signal within the building.
Satellite internet is generally the superior and sometimes the only viable solution for rural or isolated areas where the physical infrastructure for cable or fiber optic Internet connection is not available. Physical cables are costly to lay down due to barriers of distance and terrain in many of the regions across the globe. Satellite internet only needs a satellite dish not miles of cables like in the normal internet connection.
But, satellite internet is not without some drawbacks. Latency may be high since the signal has to complete a round trip of approximately 50,000 miles to the satellite in orbit. This can result in lag, buffering, and other problems when it comes to some online activities. Satellite is also often more costly than cable or DSL, with limitations on the amount of data the customer can use every month.
Earthlink and Viasat
As discussed earlier, Earthlink is not a direct provider of satellite Internet services as is the case with other Internet service providers. However, it offers satellite Internet service as a re-seller of Viasat, one of the leading satellite Internet service providers in the United States.
Viasat is a communication firm that offers various satellite services among them being satellite internet services. At present, Viasat has three satellites in orbit that enable it to offer high-speed internet connectivity throughout the continental United States The company is also developing a fourth satellite, ViaSat-3, that will offer even higher speeds in the next couple of years.
Earthlink is a middleman service provider for Viasat and the customer in the given scenario. Earthlink satellite internet means you are subscribing to Viasat internet company but with Earthlink satellite internet branding. It is also worth mentioning that almost all the equipment, installations, internet speeds, data plans, and other related items are provided and procured from Viasat.
In this case, their terms and services are virtually identical with the only difference being that one has the brand name while the other has a store label. It is akin to Earthlink and Viasat satellite internet where the company’s brand is fused with the brand of the internet service provider.
The Advantages of Earthlink Satellite
While Earthlink satellite internet is just Viasat’s service, there are still some advantages to going through Earthlink.
- Well-developed company with a good customer service image
- Several plan options are available to select the required speed and data allowance.
- Accessibility for homes and companies within the continental United States
- Simplicity of prices without additional costs or charges about the equipment.
- Other bundled service offerings offered (Internet + home telephone)
- Internet Service without any contractual obligation
However, although Earthlink does not have its satellite internet network, the company can offer the high-speed satellite Internet service you require. As a value-added reseller of satellite internet, Earthlink brings Viasat’s acclaimed satellite internet to the market under its name with solid customer support behind this service.
If your area is not serviced by cable or fiber internet, then selecting Earthlink satellite internet will provide homes or businesses with the necessary broadband connection in today’s internet-oriented society.
Call (866) 240-0701 to get a new Earthlink connection now!
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