What is VSAT?
VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) is a two-way satellite ground station that communicates via a geostationary satellite to provide broadband internet, voice, and data services to locations beyond the reach of terrestrial infrastructure. The 'small aperture' refers to the dish antenna size — typically 0.75 to 2.4 metres in diameter for commercial VSAT, compared to the 5–9 metre dishes used by gateway earth stations.
Network architecture
VSAT networks are typically organised in a star topology: remote VSAT terminals communicate with a central hub station that connects to the internet backbone. The hub aggregates all return link traffic and forwards internet-bound data, while the forward link delivers content from the hub to remotes via the satellite. Some enterprise VSAT networks use mesh topologies where terminals can communicate directly with each other via satellite, without routing through the hub — useful for distributed enterprise applications or disaster recovery.
Frequency bands and capacity
VSAT systems operate predominantly in C-band (4/6 GHz), Ku-band (11–14 GHz), and Ka-band (18–30 GHz). Ka-band VSAT terminals are smaller and cheaper but more susceptible to rain fade. Modern Ka-band HTS VSAT systems from Viasat, Hughes (ViaSat EVO, HughesNet Jupiter), and Kacific deliver 25–100 Mbps to individual terminals in underserved regions.
Market applications
VSAT is the backbone of connectivity for remote oil and gas installations, mining operations, maritime vessels, rural banks and retail outlets, military forward bases, and government agencies in regions without fibre. It is also used for cellular backhaul in emerging markets where terrestrial transmission infrastructure is sparse. The global VSAT market serves approximately 1.5 million terminals as of 2025, with LEO alternatives beginning to compete for some segments.