The
Internet has undoubtedly become the primary means for national
and international communication it is
the most powerful global computer network in the world
connecting Research institutions, cyber
cafés, schools, libraries, businesses, government
agencies, and individual computer users giving access to
the exchange of ideas and information, and it has been identified
as a condition for survival of any business today.
This
industry has been doubling in size every 6 months for the
last 2 years, this growth will continue because the only
way to profitably get the best out of the Internet is for
major Internet users to become their own ISP, this because
the market keep growing at an alarming rate and the large
ISP available now cannot meet the demands of the market
efficiently.
Even,
the people in several remote villages where the existing
ISPs does not have the capacity to serve are now becoming
aware of the Internet, and are anxiously seeking for ways
to get connected.
However,
It is important to know that becoming an ISP goes beyond
just picking up any VSAT equipment anywhere without bothering
to know the purpose for which the product was designed.
Cyber cafes, Universities, Research institutions, Hotels,
Banks, Government Institutions etc are classified as heavy
Internet users. It good to understand that several VSAT
Internet solutions available today are designed for specific
purposes, the Antenna “Dish”, may look alike,
but the Radio and The Modem combination are usually meant
for specific purposes.
Even
right now in Nigeria, there are several VSAT internet solutions
that are designed for home / small users, which are been
sold to heavy users, without explaining to them the limitations
of what they are selling to them, maybe because they just
want to make sale at all cost, or probably because most
of them are not VSAT / TELECOMS engineers; but sales companies.
Cyber
cafes, Universities, Research institutions, Hotels, Banks,
Government Institutions etc are advised to get detailed
hidden information about any VSAT internet products they
are buying before the make payment. Sometime cost, though
important should not be used as the only deciding factor.
Whoever wishes to become his own ISP, should endeavor to
understand the following before buying VSAT
-
The VSAT solution type (C/KU Band) C-band though fairly
more expensive than some ku-band; it is not effected
by “rain fade”. A lot of efforts are progress
now in attempt to correct, “rain fade” one
of which is “turbo code”, Turbo code is
designed to optimize ku-band by reducing the effect
or rain fade. Those buying ku-band should ensure that
their ku-band provider understands and support latest
technologies to optimized ku-band performance during
heavy rain.
