With the increasing number of new satellite Internet providers entering the South African marketplace, the opportunities for the provision of Internet access to areas where it had previously been unavailable have also increased.
However, potential customers need to consider certain factors in order to ensure they get the service they need, according to Jacques Visser, YahClick product manager at Vox Telecom.
Ka-band access
Most providers can provide access only to Ku-band or C-band satellite Internet, which is more expensive and exposes customers to issues such as rain fade, atmospheric weakening, problems with low elevation angles and limited coverage, says Visser.
Ka-band satellites transmit highly focused, overlapping 'spot beams', which provide coverage over targeted areas, he explains.
This translates into faster speeds, more reliability, smaller dishes and lower costs for the end-user.
Tailored packages
Satellite Internet providers should be able to offer packages depending on the needs of their customers, says Visser.
The package prices should also correlate with the customer's needs and consumption, he adds.
Customers should ensure that benefits such as unlimited uploads, built-in speed tests and real-time consumption meters are standard features from their suppliers, says Visser.
Access to high-quality Internet can provide outlying areas with IP telephony. Areas that currently use party lines (a line shared by two or more subscribers) or suffer from high instances of copper theft can now access reliable connections and communications, Visser says.
Customers should select a provider that can give access to a voice-prioritised channel at a low cost.
"Fast, reliable, affordable satellite Internet is available now," says Visser. "You just need to know the right questions to ask."
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