Is Satellite Broadband Right For Small Businesses? (NAPSA)—If your small busi- ness still hasn’t connected with the idea of high-speed Internet service by satellite, here’s a quick Q&A to help sort out the issues. Q. What is satellite broadband service? A. Satellite-based systems deliver high-speed Internet access over satellite—not over a telephone line. Satellite broadband service lets business users and consumers get online instantly; enables them to browse the Web and open pages more quickly; and downloadfiles in a fraction of the time it takes using a traditional dial-up modem. Q. Is a satellite-based communications system reliable? A. The evidence says yes. For decades, satellites have provided communications services for global Fortune 500 companies such as Wal-Mart, ExxonMobil, Wendy’s and Ford. Q. Is high-speed Internet access really that important for a small business? A. According to the Small Business Administration, over half of small businesses seem to think so. According to a recent survey, 73 percent of small businesses have some type of Internet access, with 58 percent of them subscribing to high-speed Internet. Q. What benefits do small busi- nesses experience when they use high-speed access? A. Businessesreport that it can help them receive and quickly respond to orders online, conduct research, purchase inventory, access electronic documents from suppliers, and receive large e-mail attachments. As these applications become more prevalent and customers become increasingly reliant on the Internet for purchasing and communications, experts say busi- nesses without broadband access maystruggle to compete. Q. Why are more and more vices can offer small businesses high-speed Internet access with- out the need for a telephoneline. small businesses selecting broadband satellite for their Internet access? A.The beauty of satellite access is that it is available anywhere one has an unobstructed view of the southern sky. It is not dependent on the phone or cable companies rolling out broadband access lines to hard-to-reach or remote areas. It is estimated that about 40 percent of the population is not reached with terrestrial means. So, satellite becomes the only viable alternative. And even in some metropolitan areas, if one is too far from the central office, one cannot get DSL. Q. My company is quite small. Is satellite a viable option for our needs? A. Satellite broadband is used by both small and large busi- nesses today. In fact, Hughes Network Systems’ service is ideal for the small business owner. It delivers high-speed Internet by satellite, so you don’t tie up a phone line. It’s always on and compatible with both Windows and Macin- tosh operating systems, so it can provide service in any business environment. For more information about satellite and your business, go to www.dwayforbiz.com.
