The Satellite Internet: The Convergence Of Communication And Data Networks

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to show the satellite Internet as a new quality, which was created thanks to the convergence of satellite communication and data networks. The chapter describes the development of satellite communication and satellite data networks, presents methods of Internet access via satellite and discuss the opportunities and challenges of building effective commercial services based on satellite Internet. The main advantages of the satellite Internet are high bandwidth, very good availability (in practice: anywhere in the world), and natural IP multicasting. Although getting broadband Internet access by satellite is considered very expensive, independence from the local infrastructure results in the satellite Internet being a good solution for both business communications (a corporate network or its fragments) and remote area communications (rural communications and services to isolated communities).