How Satellite Internet Works (UK)
How satellite broadband actually worksClick to play (no cookies until you do)
Overview
Satellite internet sends and receives data through satellites rather than ground cables. Understanding the data path explains both its strengths and its limits.
The data path
A request from your device travels to a dish at your property, up to a satellite, down to a ground station connected to the wider internet, and back again. Orbit height determines how far the signal travels and therefore how much delay is introduced.
Why orbit height matters
Low-earth-orbit satellites are far closer to the ground than geostationary ones, so the round trip is shorter and latency is lower. This is the core reason modern LEO services feel responsive while older satellite felt sluggish.