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About Satellite Internet

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What is satellite broadband?

Satellite broadband provides a way of connecting to the internet without the need for a traditional wired connection. Instead of connecting to the internet via cables that run from an exchange into your house, satellite broadband allows you to connect to the internet using a satellite dish installed on your house that transmits and receives information to and from our satellite in space.

What equipment do I need to connect to satellite internet?

We provide all the equipment you need to receive Konnect satellite broadband.  This includes the satellite dish, the transceiver, the modem and cabling.  

The satellite dish 
In most cases the dish will be positioned on an outside wall of your house. The standard dish is 74 cm in diameter and needs a clear view of the southern sky. The image below is of a standard Konnect satellite dish installation.

The transceiver  
The transceiver is the part facing into the dish that you can see on the image above.  

The modem 
The modem is a small electronic box, as in traditional broadband. Our installer will run a cable from the dish into your house to connect to the modem. You can then connect your devices to the Internet directly to the modem using an ethernet cable.  
 

What is latency?

Latency affects all types of internet connection. It is the time taken from when you request data to when you receive it. If you are using superfast fibre networks the latency will be so short you won't notice it. With satellite broadband, latency is longer. That’s because the signal has to go up into space and then back down again.  What that means is that web pages might take a little longer to load at first, or a streaming service like Netflix might take longer to start. Certain apps on your phone in particular banking apps might seem a little slower starting up than you are used to.  However, this doesn’t mean the internet service is ‘slow’, it just reflects how the internet is delivered to your home via our satellite in space so once you are browsing or streaming there is no difference

The average latency in satellite communications is around 600 milliseconds. You shouldn't notice this when browsing, streaming video or listening to music. But it is noticeable when you need fast two-way communications. For example, you may well experience a lag when video conferencing on a tool such as Teams or Zoom. This lag will be too great for some types of online games.

Where will the satellite dish be installed?

Our installers will advise on the best location to install the satellite dish, but if you would like to get an idea of where on your property this might be, you can download our app. You can download the Konnect Install App from the App Store or Google Play. Once you have it, simply grant location access and permission to use your camera, this will allow you to see the location of our satellite in your surroundings and highlight where the dish would be best placed. It's important that the Konnect equipment has a clear line of sight to the satellite. All this means, is that there should be no tall trees or other buildings between the equipment and the sky. If you are unsure about the installation, don't hesitate to get in touch with our satellite specialists who can walk you through the process to get connected. 

Can I move my equipment?

The Konnect equipment needs to be installed in a fixed location and pointed towards our satellite in space. This means it cannot be moved. The dish does not automatically orient itself towards the satellite in space and it is not designed to provide satellite communications on the move. You also can't use it outside of the country for which it was purchased.

Can I use satellite internet for online gaming?

If you are an avid gamer, especially if you play fast-paced, multiplayer games like Fortnight or Call of Duty, you’ll notice the higher latency. Your character might not move when you move the controller and you’ll be beaten by players with lower latency as even if you push the button first, there will be a short lag on your side. That's why we don't recommend satellite broadband for gaming.

Konnect packages & options

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Which packages are available with konnect?

Konnect proposes a wide range of Internet packages for you to choose from. Our packages are divided into two product ranges : konnect Simply and konnect Unlimited. In Tanzania and Nigeria we offer Unlimited packages.

- konnect Simply is a range of flexible, pre-paid packages which allow you to choose the speed and monthly data allowance. With speeds ranging from 5 Mbps to 50 Mbps, and data allowances from 5 Gb to 250 Gb per month you can choose the speed/data combination which suits you best. konnect Simply packages come with an extra night-time data allowance, which applies between 10 pm and 6 am so you can download data-consuming files and apps overnight. And as an loyalty bonus, konnect gives you an extra 20% of data absolutely free if you renew your package early. 

- the konnect Unlimited range gives you speeds up to 2 Mbps with no limit on data consumption so you never run out of data.

These Internet packages are available to individuals and businesses, depending on your data requirements.

Not all packages are available in all countries. Please talk to Customer Services, visit one of our stores or check our internet packages to see what's available in your area.

Which options are available with konnect?

konnect proposes a range of options which are compatible with our packages

These include: 

- 1 Fixed IP address: This option allows you to have one static/fixed/public IP address which allows you to facilitate access to a VPN or remote software

- 5 fixed IP address options: This option allocates 5 static/fixed/public IP addresses to your network for specific purposes

- SIP Call prioritisation : This option lets you prioritise Voice traffic (SIP) on the Internet over other types of traffic to improve call quality if you use your Internet package to make phone calls (SI Protocol) 

- Double Speed : This allows you to double the initial download speed of the chosen konnect package (up to 50 Mbps)

Can I renew my Simply package if I run out of data?

If you run out of data with your Simply package, you can always renew your package before the end of the period. 

Can I top-up my Simply package if I run out of data ?

If you run out of data with your Simply package, we always reccomend that you renew your package early as this provides great value for money.

If you prefer to top-up instead, you can purchase data boosters to add either 1GB or 2GB of data allowance. The speed will be the same as your initial plan and it will be valid until your initial plan expires.  

Becoming a customer

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How do I sign up for a konnect package?

Nothing could be simpler! Contact one of our distributors or visit us in store, select your package and purchase your equipment. We'll organise the installation and you can enjoy high speed Internet as soon as your package is activated. You can see the full list of our distributors and shops.

When will my Internet package be activated?

If you are a using konnect services for the first-time, the Internet package will be activated as soon as the installer has entered the "Activation Key" to compete the activation of the konnect modem. 

If you are an existing customer renewing your package, your Internet package will be activated depending on your choice:

- If your current package is still active: You can activate your next package once the data volume has been used up, or when the current package has expired. 

- If you have no package active currently, the package will be automatically activated (within a few minutes). 

How do I install my konnect equipment?

To allow you to take full advantage of the service, we recommend the konnect hardware be installed by a professional. If this has not already been done, please contact your distributor or your local konnect team to organise delivery and installation of your equipment.

Can I install my konnect equipment myself?

Installing konnect’s hardware can be more or less complicated depending on where you live. You need a high quality cable and you must orientate the antenna correctly in order to optimise the signal and ensure you enjoy the services in full. This is why we recommend you to contact a professional installer via your konnect distributor or through a konnect store.

Can I use a VPN with satellite internet?

Using satellite internet will not stop you connecting to a VPN, but there are some things to check. First, you need to find out if your VPN is an IPSec type of VPN or not. If it is, this may require a static IP address, which can be added as an option to any of our plans. 

You should also note that with certain VPN connections, information is encrypted, and so we can’t apply packet acceleration technology. This is a technology we use to help data efficiently travel the distance between your system and our satellite. If your VPN encrypts information, you might experience performance problems, or the system may not be able to run. If you're unsure what type of VPN you have or what encryption is used, just give us a call and we can advise on whether the connection might be suitable or not. 

konnect & the Internet

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How can I protect myself from Internet threats?

The Internet is open to the entire world, and it can serve as a vehicle for many different kinds of threats to your IT equipment, the security of your personal data and your private life. At konnect, we take every precaution whilst supplying the service. However, we recommend that our customers find out about potential threats and obtain protection (anti-virus software, etc.) whilst using the Internet.

How can I protect my family with parental control tools?

Internet access opens up the world and provides many opportunities. However, children may access information that could be offensive, and they could come into contact with people with malicious intent. We recommend that our customers find out about these threats and use a parental control tool to protect their children from potential danger. 

Want to know more?

Read our customer FAQs

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