ADSL South Africa - Satellite based ADSL Broadband

Click here for a full list of factors to consider when getting ADSL Broadband.

In this section of ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) our focus will be on Satellite based ADSL Broadband in South Africa.

What is Satellite based ADSL Broadband? Satellite based ADSL Broadband or Satellite ADSL Broadband refers to the use of a satellite to send and receive information at broadband speeds. Information is transmitted from one place to another by means of a satellite.

Satellite based ADSL Broadband only applies to international destinations since local destinations will not be affected when you use Satellite based ADSL Broadband. If you use Satellite based ADSL Broadband your request will never leave South Africa but will be carried over ADSL fixed-lines 9 times out of 10.

Satellite based ADSL Broadband is used when one wants to access international destinations via the net at very high speeds. Satellite based ADSL Broadband makes for one international video and audio streaming easier than Copper or Traditional based ADSL Broadband. Satellite based ADSL Broadband is mostly used by businesses or the Average Joe who has won the lottery or who has achieved financial freedom. The reason for this is because it's a more expensive option than traditional ADSL Broadband (carries info via copper cables) which offers access to international destinations at slower speeds and higher latency.

Advantages of Satellite based ADSL Broadband:

• Cheaper than Fiber based ADSL Broadband - Satellite based ADSL Broadband, although more expensive than traditional ADSL Broadband, offers a cheaper means of accessing international destinations via the Internet than Fiber based ADSL Broadband.

• High-speed -  Satellite based ADSL Broadband can carry information at greater speeds than copper or electrical cables.

• Low latency - Satellite based ADSL Broadband has a low latency (‘the time that elapses between a stimulus and the response to it' - WordWeb). The lower the latency the better. In terms of online gaming, it means that your action hero doesn’t have to walk like a duck or as slow as a tortoise, especially when you’re stuck in a fierce battle. Satellite based ADSL Broadband has an average international latency of 600ms - 800ms.

• Et cetera

What is a good alternative to Satellite based ADSL Broadband?

A good alternative to Satellite based ADSL is Fiber based ADSL Broadband, depending on what you want to do and your budget.

Satellite based ADSL Broadband vs Fiber based ADSL Broadband

Satellite based ADSL Broadband is the best ADSL Broadband solution to use for basic email and web browsing as well as local Virtual Private Networks (VPN).

On the other hand, Fiber based ADSL Broadband is the better ADSL Broadband solution to use for basic email and web browsing, peer-to-peer and high-speed international downloads, video & audio streaming and local and international Virtual Private Networks (VPN).

Fiber based ADSL Broadband is 9 times out of 10 more expensive than Satellite based ADSL Broadband but offers much more than Satellite based ADSL Broadband in terms of speed and latency (average international latency of 250ms - 350ms). Fiber based ADSL Broadband is also not as severely affected by bad weather as the case is with Satellite based ADSL Broadband which can be down for several hours in storms, etc.