| In the early 20th Century, Einstein made his place | | | | older technologies limited by terrestrial broadcast |
| in history by giving humanity a new understanding | | | | concerns such as constant line of sight between |
| of both the physics of time and the physics of | | | | origination and destination, poor signal propagation |
| light. One of the main parts of Einstein's theory | | | | and the large amount of power required to |
| was that nothing in the universe can travel faster | | | | generate a strong signal, satellite Internet access |
| than light. Light travels at over 186,000 miles per | | | | is still a useful solution to those requiring Internet |
| second which makes it sound like any destination | | | | access in areas where traditional methods of |
| could be reached in an instant. But, when the vast | | | | delivery are unavailable. |
| distances of space are considered, time can | | | | Satellite Internet access means more than just |
| become a factor. | | | | surfing the web. Services such as SMS bundled |
| The satellites that provide Internet access to | | | | along with satellite phone access allow travelers in |
| locations around the globe are affected by the | | | | remote areas of the world to receive written |
| amount of time that their signal takes to reach | | | | instructions when verbal instructions may be |
| the satellite and make it back down to the | | | | compromised by conditions that make a clear |
| computer trying to connect. Because satellites | | | | voice signal difficult. It also means that static |
| orbit at around 35,000 miles above the Earth, this | | | | information, such as maps, photography and |
| means that information from the Internet can | | | | scientific data can be uploaded from the most |
| take almost a second to make its journey. The | | | | remote locations in the world to a headquarters in |
| speed, considering the distance travelled, is | | | | less than a second, even if the time-delay is at its |
| mind-boggling. For some Internet applications, | | | | highest. |
| however, particularly those that require instant | | | | "Latency" is the word used to describe the delay |
| input from user to server, this can be an issue. | | | | between a signal being originated and being |
| Because the issue is not one of technology, and | | | | received. Though humanity is unlikely to ever |
| one of the nature of the universe, creative | | | | invent technology that can rewrite the rules of |
| solutions need to be implemented. | | | | the universe, the creativity of engineers and |
| Some satellite providers use a combination of | | | | scientists may result in the innovative combination |
| technologies to offset the time-delay. Routing | | | | of several technologies that allow services that |
| outgoing signals through a phone line and incoming | | | | suffer from high-latency conditions to be delivered |
| information from the Internet over the satellite's | | | | reliably and effectively using satellites as part of |
| signal, they are able to eliminate some of the | | | | the technology. Even with latency taken into |
| difficulties that time-delay can pose. | | | | consideration, the benefits of having the highest |
| Additionally, the Internet is used for many | | | | possible vantage point for broadcast still outweigh |
| different applications today and time-delay is not | | | | the difficulties of terrestrial service, by far. |
| necessarily a factor for all of them. Compared to | | | | |