3 ms·
1) Satellites don't use fiber as a medium so have that against them 2) from point A to a satellite back to point B is generally going to be a pretty significant
by jrowley 10y ago
1) Satellites don't use fiber as a medium so have that against them
2) from point A to a satellite back to point B is generally going to be a pretty significant distance, as such, when combined when a comparatively slower medium you'll get increased latency, which is bad for interactive applications.
3) satellites can be susceptible to weather issues.
- yellowapple 10y agoTo clarify/correct here: satellites do not use a slower medium than fiber; satellite (and radio in general) and fiber communication both happen at the speed of light (since they both use light to communicate). If we had a space elevator, and someone were to string a fiber-optic cable along its length and ping something at the other end of it, it'd take just as long for that signal to reach the top of the elevator as it would to reach a satellite orbiting right next to it. The "slowness" is due to the other factors you've described (the longer distances and the increased risk of environmental interference).
- jrowley 10y agoThanks for clarifying/constructive correction! I feel silly, because now I'm thinking about microwave internet and how fast it can be, especially paired with fiber on either end.