What it is
A VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) is a stabilized antenna, usually inside a radome, that communicates with geostationary (GEO) satellites parked over the equator. It has been the standard maritime broadband method for many years.
Bands and trade-offs
Ku-band is the most common; Ka-band high-throughput satellites offer more capacity; C-band is robust but restricted near shore. Because GEO sits far away, latency is around 600 ms, noticeably higher than LEO.
Where it fits
VSAT remains a dependable backbone or backup, valued for predictable wide-area coverage. Today it is frequently combined with a LEO link in a hybrid setup for the best of both reliability and speed.