In a move that could help improve broadband coverage in rural areas, Mobil Satellite Technologies, a provider of mobile and fixed satellite Internet services, has launched a 10 Mbps downstream, 4 Mbps upstream Ku-Band service for use anywhere in the North America.
The iDirect compatible service leverages existing Ku-Band hardware. Ku-Band service operates in the 12 - 18 GHz range; its longer wavelengths, relative to the Ka Band at 26.5-40 GHz, give Ku-Band gear a superior ability to perform through inclement environmental conditions.
The Mobil Satellite Technologies satellite network has been configured to support the new service with 1.2-meter antennas with an 8W BUC, which are now available in a small, fan-less form factor that no longer require auxiliary power supplies. The design is intended to allow a simple replacement of the existing BUCs on almost any mobile or fixed 1.2-meter VSAT antenna.