With recent technological evolution, the internet has taken a central place in our lives. Whether on our laptops, smartphones, or even TVs, it is a form of entertainment, networking, and a business tool that has become omnipresent in our day-to-day operations.
For those thinking of settling down in more remote areas, or owners of a homestead or business in the Serengeti, then you must be wondering how you’ll manage to stay connected to the world from the depth of the national park.
Here are 4 of the best and most readily available internet options for remote areas:
Satellite internet is probably one of the most effective ways of benefiting from good quality internet even deep into the savannah. Due to the use of satellites in the sky, this type of internet can be accessed from relatively anywhere.
One of the top advantages of using this network is that it does not require any extensive installation or hard wiring through the bush. All you need is a receiver dish mounted on the ground, a modem to convert signals received, and a router to distribute the Wi-Fi throughout your set-up.
However, due to their position in orbit, satellite internet may be subject to slight latency. Signals and information travel from Earth, about 22,000 miles into the air to a satellite in geostationary orbit and back down to your receiver dish. Although transmissions are quite fast nowadays, this process still creates latency.
For those lucky enough to have settled close to a cell service tower in Remote Areas, a High Gain Microwave Antenna (HGMA) or Fixed Wireless antenna is used to target radio signals. The HGMA transmits power to the receiver in order to boost the strength of the signal received.
Similar to satellite internet, HGMA will require a radio receiver and router to distribute the Wi-Fi around your home. For those living farther away, additional equipment such as a booster may be required to benefit from High Gain Microwave Antenna internet.
While cellular internet may not have been the first option to pop into your mind, it is still an effective way of browsing the web in Remote Areas. Connecting to the internet through your cellular provider is a good way of accessing high-speed internet with low latency.
However, cell service provider plans do not usually offer unlimited data packages and remain quite expensive. Furthermore, exceeding your package limit may result in a significant decrease in internet speed and being charged per additional gigabyte.
DSL service or Digital Subscriber Line service is considered an upgrade from traditional dial-up systems. To access the internet through DSL, your provider uses your existing telephone line to deliver the internet in Remote Areas.
The principle is that telephone lines can carry hundreds of thousands of different frequencies with only a few thousand actually being used for telephone communication.
A DSL modem can thus be operated at the same time, providing relatively good quality internet without interfering with your telephone. This type of connection is usually distance-sensitive, meaning the closer you are the better your connection will be.
While it is not the fastest option and might not be sufficiently powerful for heavy-duty operations such as the running of a business, DSL is widely available, cost-effective, and reliable.
Please feel free to contact us or book an appointment to discuss the best internet solutions which fit your needs and situation.
