Can satellite Internet solve the connectivity problem in Caribbean schools?

Satellite Internet is an option many Caribbean countries have been considering to connect rural schools and communities across the region. However, can it truly solve the connectivity problem that exists?

 

When most people think about satellite communications, it is usually within the context of radio and television broadcast transmissions, and the massive satellite dishes that we might see from time to time, However, satellite communication has a broad range of applications, including direct satellite broadcast TV services, which are popular in some developed countries, but are virtually non-existent here in the Caribbean.

Another known use of stellate communication technology is to facilitate Internet connectivity. Typically, it is considered an option for remote areas, which are beyond the reach of the existing fixed-line or wireless networks. It is in that vein that satellite Internet is being actively considered to connect schools in remote areas of countries. Recently, it was deployed in a school in one of Jamaica’s westernmost parishes, Westmoreland, and it is anticipated that around 100 schools in rural Jamaica will soon use that technology (Source: Jamaica Observer).

Although over the past decade a lot of attention has been placed on electronic (e-)learning and remote learning, over the past six months, countries worldwide have had implement digital education protocols almost exclusively, due to school closures to limit the spread of COVID-19.  However, it became glaringly obvious, especially in the Caribbean, how ill-prepared we were for e-learning on a number of fronts, but especially with regard to the extent to which students in rural communities would be able to participate in purely digital construct.

Hence, although we are still in the throes of back-to-school, and to varying degrees, classes are being held in person on the school compound, e-learning methods are also being employed, which is prompting the improvement of digital access and internet connectivity to schools and to the communities in which students live. Is satellite Internet the answer?

 

Key pros and cons of satellite technology

As with many options for Internet connectivity, the use of satellite technology has pros and cons that ought to be considered. First, and as mentioned earlier, satellite technology tends to be considered when other connectivity options either are not viable, or do not exist. This is a definite benefit of satellite Internet, as it relies on geostationary satellites that have already been deployed and are orbiting in our atmosphere. It also means that satellite Internets service is available almost everywhere – even in rural or remote parts of Caribbean countries.

Another notable benefit of satellite Internet is that it is faster than dialup Internet, which typically has a maximum transfer speed of 56 kilobit per second. In fact, Megabit per second (Mbps) speed, usually between 2 Mbps and 100 Mbps, can be achieved via satellite, which is on par with the range most residential customers in the Caribbean experience from their fixed-line (and even wireless) broadband Internet service.

On the flipside, and when comparing price and speed, satellite Internet is more expensive than many of the other Internet access options, such as fixed broadband Internet. As a result, and although it might be the only option for some areas, its pricing might be prohibitive and a deterrent to take-up.

Another point to the consider is the fact that satellite communications require unobstructed line of sight between the geostationary satellite and the transceiver on the ground. Hence, in very hilly terrain, or in forested areas, consistent line of sight may not be possible, which would affect the quality and reliability of the service.

In a similar vein, bad weather also affects the quality of the transmission. Rain, heavy cloud cover, storms, can all interfere with the light of sight needed to maintain a reliable satellite internet service.

Finally, consideration ought to be given to the latency that is inherent in satellite Internet use. Essentially, latency is the delay in the delivery of data. Factors that contribute to that delay include the distance between the server and the satellite, and the satellite and transceiver on the ground. As a result, satellite Internet users may become aware that websites are a bit slower to load, and there might be slightly longer pauses when people are talking on voice calls, which could be due to latency.

 

An option of last resort?

Frequently, satellite communication is an option of last resort – when fixed-line or wireless solutions are not available. Within the context of schools, and cognisant of the need for deeper integration and use of digital learning platforms, there has been a growing urgency for schools to be connected: by whatever means necessary.

For the schools in the Caribbean that have signed on for satellite Internet, it would be interesting to know the pricing and speeds agreed. It is not usual for satellite Internet providers to offer an introductory rate, which would be highly attractive, but eventually, whether after a period of six months to a year, the real rate payable kicks in.

It might be possible that in some countries, the Universal Access and/or Service Fund (UASF) may provide a subsidy for satellite Internet connectivity in schools, as schools area a popular priority area for UASF support.

 

Will effective connectivity been achieved?

Finally, and although it Is possible to secure broadband Internet speeds via satellite, whatever speed that is received on the school compound will most likely be shared across all of the connected devices, which can lead to considerable congestion on that network. Since the transmission speed experienced is likely to be a function of the price of package secured, if the package is modest, and the number of connected devices is high, the congestion experienced might be even more acute.

Hence, if considerably slower transmission speeds, dropped connections, etc., are experienced, would students and teachers truly experience the benefit from having Internet access?

The short answer might be no, but it could be argued that having some form of connectivity is better than having none at all. However, over the long term, the demand for improved connectivity is likely to increase, and there might be challenges sustaining and justifying the rates payable. To that end, satellite Internet may be a much-needed stop gap – to connect the unconnected – whilst strategies to increase the options available in rural communities are developed.

 

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Image credit:  PublicDomainPictures (Pixabay)