Who? Where?

Satellite networks function smoothly because of an industry built from closely interacting segments in specific areas of expertise. Let's review those segments.

SATELLITE OPERATORS

A satellite operator finances a satellite’s construction and its launch. Each satellite has transponders ("How to Communicate…") designed to cover a specific geographic region, or “footprint”, thus helping the operator address specific customer markets. The operator then leases transponder capacity to customers, such as service providers, television broadcasters, corporations and governments.

GROUND STATION EQUIPMENT PROVIDERS

The ground equipment, including hubs and VSATs, is manufactured and supplied by the equipment providers. Gilat is a leading ground station equipment provider, supplying hubs, VSATs and related equipment and services.

SERVICE PROVIDERS

These are typically either telephony or broadband internet companies who lease capacity from satellite operators, buy equipment from the ground station equipment providers, install and maintain the resulting network and sell full package communication services to the end user. Spacenet Inc. and Spacenet Rural Communications are leading service providers in North America and Latin America, respectively.

CUSTOMERS

Customers are the organizations and individuals utilizing the equipment and satellite communication services. Very large customers, primarily governmental agencies and international companies, sometimes act as their own Service Providers, operating their own ground station equipment. Smaller organizations, including Small & Medium size Enterprises (SME) and Small Offices/Home Offices (SOHOs) work with service providers rather than manage their own infrastructures. Consumers, whether using a telephone, ATM or computer in a rural area might not even know that satellites are providing the network connection, but they know they are now receiving the same services as customers in the cities.