How Does Satellite Internet Work?

Satellite internet is in the spotlight a lot these days. After seemingly already having passed its heyday, it appears to be making a comeback, thanks to work being done by a lot of major tech players such as SpaceX. But in order to understand what it is and how it works, let’s first talk about how the internet works in the first place.

When you really break it down, the internet is just a collection of files on a bunch of computers spread all over the world. When you visit a website, all you’re trying to do is access the contents of a file that is stored on a computer located potentially thousands of kilometers away. This file makes its way to you by traveling in the form of electric transmissions through physical cables.

Even when you’re connected to the internet wirelessly, either through WiFi or cellular data, there is a physical point of contact between you and “the rest of the internet”. This could be the cell tower maintained by your data provider or the modem inside your house. These devices connect to other routers on the internet through a wired connection.

The exact form of that connection could vary. If you are old enough, you probably remember the days of…