Pakistan Telecommunication Limited
Advantages and Disadvantages of
DRS vs VSAT
27-August-2016
[Link] Mehdi
Manager Corporate
DIGITAL RADIO SYSTEMS ADVANTAGES:
1. Digital Radio System is quicker.
2. Optical Radio System higher bandwidth.
3. In case of any fault we can easily repair Digital Radio Systems.
4. Digital Radio Systems initial Cost is low
5. Satellite cost low for long range communication, while Radio System is very costly for long range
communication.
7. Satellite suffers from propagation delay. For optical Radio System, no such delays.
VSAT ADVANTAGES
Global Coverage
This is the most significant advantage of using satellite links - coverage at any location on Earth. A single
satellite in the geostationary orbit can cover distances as large as whole oceans or continents.
Bandwidth availability
The geo-stationary orbit has about 180 'parking spots' for satellites. Of these, many satellites have fixed
positions over large oceans. These satellites are great for watching the weather, but are not useful for
providing data communications services.
Latencies (>500 ms) are still higher than their terrestrial equivalent technologies (<100 ms).
Access in Remote Locations: This has been the traditional strength of Satellite Networks and Satellite is
wireless, can cover the regions
Internet Access: A VSAT Network can provide Internet access in addition to the point to point WAN links.
Standards based: VSAT networks are standards based and support IP (Internet Protocol) and its variants
through a protocol called IPoS (Internet Protocol over Satellite TIA 1008). Since the developments are
standards based, it enables the creation of a healthy ecosystem of terminal, hub and ancillary equipment
manufacturers and hence new innovations and improvements are faster.
VSAT DISADVANTAGES:
Extremely high initial cost: needed for building and launching satellites in the Geo-Synchronous orbit, higher
initial cost.
Recurring monthly costs for terminal equipments needed for providing Internet over broadband when
compared to DRS networks.
Bit Error Rate is common for satellite based technologies.
Rain Attenuation might affect the performance of VSAT communications under rainy conditions.
Latencies (>200 ms) are still higher than their terrestrial equivalent technologies (<100 ms).
Careful direction of subscriber side terminals and dish antennas are critical for proper working.
Trained man power is required for installation and maintenance, also in Sun Outage its not working proper
COMPETITIVE TECHNOLOGIES
Final we can conclude that (DRS, 3G/HSDPA/4G Cellular technologies etc.) offer much higher bandwidth at
a lower cost than what is possible by VSAT based networks, the antennas need to be fixed outside the offices
or homes hence making them susceptible to damage or theft, the cost of VSAT modules for Network Routers/
Video Conferencing systems are quite high, etc. where Digital Radio Systems infrastructure is not possible.
But is having slower data rate and reliability as compared to Digital Radio Systems. While Digital Radio
Systems is wired network and requires a huge investment in setting up, depending upon the size of the
network. But once set it allows most efficient data transfer in terms of speed and reliability.
VSAT
Distance
Anywhere in a satellite transponder foot
print.
DRS
Distance is typically not a limiting factor
Low 256 Kb/s typically up to 300 Mb/s
Low 256 Kb/s typically up to 2 Mb/s
Advantages and
Disadvantages
Recurring Cost
Advantage: Low equipment cost,
economical for low capacity/bandwidth
(512 Kb/s or less)
Advantage: Highest capacity can serve
many platforms in an entire oil field or
basin
Disadvantage: Absolutely delay
(latency), availability degradation
(outages) monthly transponder lease
cost
Disadvantages: Highest installation and
restoral cost of all media. Installation cost
is typically estimated at more than US$
10 million 100 km
200 thousand per month per MBPS
Generally a monthly recurring cost for
standby restoral services in case of cable
brake 10000 per month per MBPS
Capacity
Low(2-Mbps)
Very High(up to 300mb)
Equipment Cost
500 thousand to 2 million
500 thousand to 3 million
Cost
Monthly lease cost depend on capacity
