The Internet is a terrestrial-based system, and satellite Internet technology utilizes an extraterrestrial-based system, i.e. satellite, to get connected to the Internet backbone. The need for the access through satellite is the lack of DSL and cable lines in remote areas and in mobile situations such as seafaring vessels.

Satellite Internet access works through a dish at the customers location, which sends radio frequencies from the computer to the satellite. The dish is usually of 1.2 m diameter. The customers location may be equipped with a satellite modem to convert digital information into analog form. The customers location may be a single PC or networked workstations. This obviates the need for telephone lines.

At the other end, the satellite sends back the frequencies to the teleport at a ground station where a number of large aperture dishes are placed. From here, the data is sent to the network system, which consists of routers and optical cables that connect to the Internet backbone. As the Internet backbone is shared by many service providers, the bandwidth availability is restricted by the terrestrial Internet infrastructure.

At the users location, the access is determined by the level of service required, whether it is one-way or two-way satellite service. One-way service may require a regular dial up service. A user may need to have a minimum of Windows- or Mac-supported PC with a networking capability. Other requirements include Ethernet port. Other than hardware requirements, software programming to manage interfaces is required.

Broadband access through satellite is a costly alternative to cable modems and DSL. The access is limited by the costly installations and the weather conditions. Besides, the uplink speed is limited by the dial-up speed just like dial-up Internet. The long-haul distance between the dish and satellite results in delay of the access.