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VSAT is short for very small aperture terminal, an earthbound station used in satellite communications of data, voice and video signals, excluding broadcast television. AVSAT consists of two parts, a transceiver that is placed outdoors in direct line of sight to the satellite and a device that is placed indoors to interface the transceiver with the end user’s communications device, such as a PC. The transceiver receives or sends a signal to a satellite transponder in the sky. The satellite sends and receives signals from a ground station computer that acts as a hub for the system.

Each end user is interconnected with the hub station via the satellite, forming a star topology. The hub controls the entire operation of the network. VSAT is a medium of connectivity which makes available the internet via satellite, meaning that, no matter where you are, you can always be connected.

VSAT is available everywhere where the footprint of satellite covers the area. Therefore, it does not matter how remote your location is, you can always be connected to the rest of the world only by using a VSAT system.

In Zimbabwe, ZOL encourages VSAT connection to gain access in remote locations. This has been the traditional strength of Satellite Networks. A Satellite in the Geo Synchronous orbit can cover around 33 percent of the earth’s surface and can provide connectivity to any region covered by it.

A satellite can also focus on a particular high-density region and multiple satellites can work together to provide global coverage. This is very useful for remote locations (rural areas, ships and coastal regions, hills, etc) where there is limited or no terrestrial connectivity.

A VSAT network can today carry data as well as latency sensitive applications like voice and video as well. That’s why the DTH (Cable TV), Internet Radio and other technologies have found applications in real life situations. Even IP based multi-cast applications like audio and video streaming are possible.

Satellite is the only broadband wide-area network technology that is available everywhere — in urban and rural areas of Zimbabwe and around the world. All that is required for a location to receive connectivity from ZOL is a clear view of the sky, unobstructed by trees, tall buildings or other objects.

Internet by satellite is known for high-reliability networks with redundant components, enterprise class hardware systems and networks that manage a large number of concurrent users.

This makes it a useful means of connectivity between offices in urban centres and those in rural areas. VSAT networks make a good back up network to the terrestrial networks (ADSL, fibre and Wi-Max broadband). While ADSL becomes less reliable as you move away from the main data centre, VSAT is not affected by geographical barriers.

One of the best VSAT advantages is that of Speed. ZOL Zimbabwe VSAT Systems can provide users with speeds as high as 10Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload.

Speed is a really important thing when it comes to using the internet as it enhances your experience and increases your efficiency to allow you to do what you need to do in less time.

For example, there should be no difference in speed of access for a user on the Basic essentials Fibroniks package in Harare with someone using ZOL’s Gold VSAT package in Nyautare, Nyanga.

VSAT also offers the advantage of minimal interruptions due to frequent changes in weather. Networks have been known to be resistant against natural calamities like earthquakes and storms.

Satellite antennas can be instantly deployed and installed within a matter of a few hours. For mobile and transportable solutions, you can set up and connect to the Internet in less than 10 minutes.

Internet by satellite is possible through mobile equipment. The end user location is connected to the Internet as long as the VSAT dish has a clear line of sight.

A ZOL VSAT, has just three potential points of failure — the satellite, the hub and the VSAT — each of which has built-in redundancy in case of failure.

Satellite outages are exceedingly rare but, should one occur, traffic to failed transponders is automatically re-routed to back-up transponders in a manner that is transparent to the end user and has no impact on service.

In the even more remote case of total satellite failure, which has occurred just twice in more 30 years satellites have been in commercial use, back-up capacity is available on dozens of satellites.

At the hub, online redundant equipment is used to provide immediate switching, in a manner completely transparent to the user for uninterrupted service in the event of equipment failure.

Finally, for its VSAT equipment, which has the longest mean-time-between-failure in the industry, ZOL Zimbabwe provides six-hour service restoration to most locations.

ZOL VSAT provides unmatched reliability, with far fewer potential points of failure than terrestrial solutions and built-in redundancy at every level to limit service interruptions when problems occur.

Lastly, VSAT supports a variety of network configurations and large amounts of information including data, voice and can be transmitted on different speeds.

This means that services such as ZOLphone can be enjoyed by users of VSAT internet, as well as the advantages that come with using the service such as cheaper calls and Free 08677 to 08677 calls.

The cost of having a VSAT connection is uniform and does not depend on distance to a data centre like ADSL. It is a useful medium of connectivity for hilly, remote and ill-connected areas.

This means that each year, your communication budget can be planned accurately. Institutions can fix their communication costs and achieve them. With a standard monthly subscription, you are guaranteed of the same high quality speeds and service.

So do not worry if your area does not yet have fibre or broadband . . . you can connect your home or business to VSAT anywhere in Zimbabwe.

ZOL ON! Get Connected.