Satellite companies attempt to improve their technology in order to provide better internet service to consumers, especially those  for whom satellite connection is the only option.

• Two satellite companies, WildBlue and HughesNet, have big plans for the future of satellite and internet service.
• These companies claim that their new satellites will allow them to provide consumers with internet service that rivals the speed of their broadband competitors’ but costs far less.
• Terrestrial internet providers argue that fiber-optics are expensive to install but much easier to update as technology improves, an advantage satellites lack.

Facts & Figures

• An estimated 14-24 million Americans currently live without broadband internet service.
• WildBlue argues that a $28 million grant aimed at extending fiber optics to 420 schools in North Carolina could instead have supplied 70,000 residents in that area with satellite service.
• The average lifespan of a satellite is 15 years–a statistic that helps explain why the industry has advanced so slowly to date.

Best Quote

“One advantage satellite has is ubiquity. The cost of reaching you with a satellite dish is independent of where you are. Fiber or cable is labor-intensive and dependent on distance.” –Arunas G. Slekys, Vice President, Hughes Network Systems