Connecting Africa

Telephone +27 11 760 2017 Email info@connectingafrica.co.za

Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) Solution A Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), is a two-way satellite solution most commonly used to transmit narrowband data (point of sale transactions such as credit card or broadband data (Satellite Internet access or VOIP) to remote locations. VSATs terminals can be installed permanently, mobile unit or temporary at any remote site on short notice. The diameter of the Vsat dish ranges from 1.2 meters to 4 meters and determines the data rates that typically range from 56 Kbit/s up to 4 Mbit/s. VSATs terminals access satellites in geosynchronous orbit to relay data from site directly to other VSAT terminals (in mesh configurations/one on one) or master earth station "hubs" (in star configurations). All the outdoor parts on the dish are collectively called the ODU (Outdoor Unit) and the indoor parts are called the IDU (indoor Unit). The IDU is effectively a Network Modem with an Ethernet port that serves as a “gateway” between the satellite wide area network (WAN) and local area network (LAN). Connecting Africa has installed an estimated 3000 VSAT remote terminals in South Africa and Africa with dish sizes from 1.2m to 4m in diameter. We are the preferred installation and maintenance company for Internet Solution.