Is Earthlink Internet Satellite?
Earthlink is probably one of the oldest and most recognized ISPs that exist in the United States. The company started in 1994 and, within a few years, became one of the leading dial-up Internet service providers during the early stage of the Internet for common users.
Presently, nearly three decades later, Earthlink remains an Internet Service Provider offering Internet connection to residential and commercial clients. But with the developments in internet technology over the past few decades, many individuals are asking – is Earthlink satellite internet? Or perhaps, it offers an internet connection in another form?
What is Satellite Internet?
Knowing what satellite internet is before I can decide whether or not Earthlink provides it is crucial. The concept of satellite internet is based on a satellite positioned in orbit returning internet signals to Earth.
Placed in a geostationary orbit, maybe 22,000 miles above the Earth, satellites are used in satellite internet service providers. Between your location on the planet and the internet infrastructure, these satellites act as a middle wireless transmitter. Your signal travels from your satellite dish to the circling satellites and from there to a ground station connected with high-speed fiber optic networks when you sign up for satellite internet.
Accessibility of satellite internet is its main asset. Offering broadband Internet to places like isolated or rural areas that cannot be serviced by cable or DSL helps satellite technology advantages show. If you can see the southern sky, satellite internet is simply almost everywhere in the contiguous 48 states.
The drawbacks are that the latency is higher and it is not as quick as a cable connection; sometimes it might be slower. Storms, rain, or snowfall that alters the atmosphere are the other reasons outages occur. All clients in the particular locations the satellite covers also share satellite bandwidths, which may slow down the bandwidths during maximum use.
Earthlink’s Internet Offerings
Now, let us return to the initial question – does any part of Earthlink’s internet service include satellites? The answer is negative; however, Earthlink does offer dial-up, DSL, and fiber optic internet service coverage across a vast region; at the same time, it does not offer any satellite internet services.
However, through a more detailed analysis, it is possible to identify that Earthlink offers internet services mainly through DSL and fiber optic. DSL internet from Earthlink means your connection goes through telephone wires from your home to the nearest telephone company facility. From there your traffic connects to Earthlink’s high-speed fiber optic networks and the Internet backbone.
If fiber optics is available in your area, Earthlink may also offer fiber internet service at a significantly faster speed than DSL. Fiber optic internet transmits your traffic in the form of light signals through cables made of glass fibers buried underground. This enables the utilization of almost infinite bandwidth over a dedicated connection that does not depend on the weather, as in the case of a satellite Internet connection.
Considerations for Satellite Internet
Satellite internet is not available today through earth link but satellite technology has enhanced in the recent past. Later satellite constellations such as SpaceX Starlink have higher bandwidth and speed than the earlier satellite systems.
Therefore satellite internet can still be useful for rural or remote areas where fiber and cable internet is unavailable. Accessibility of the satellite to the open sky is necessary for the signal to be received clearly; trees or the physical terrain may interfere. Do not forget to investigate costs associated with satellite equipment purchase and installation and possible monthly usage limits that may be tied to overall cost.
DSL, fiber optic, cable, or other internet connections are much cheaper and more stable for most suburban or urban regions compared to satellite connections. But satellite serves a vital purpose of offering broadband connection to isolated homes, businesses, and communities all over the country. It is not only the technology associated with the specific services offered by Earthlink.
The Bottom Line
Although satellite internet availability is on the increase in North America, Earthlink does not offer satellite internet services at the moment. Rather, it provides DSL and fiber optic internet in a vast coverage area of the country. Satellite technology as a mode of data communication has some benefits and drawbacks compared to physical links through wires or cables.
Therefore if you are planning to use Earthlink for the home or business broadband connection you are assured of a high-speed broadband connection without the inconvenience of installing a satellite dish. However, satellite internet does remain a viable choice if you are in a very rural area that has little or no other cheap broadband options.
