Geostationary or geosynchronous (GSO) orbit satellites are positioned > ~35,000 km above the surface of the Earth, as measured from the equator. These include the Anik series of satellites launched by Telesat.154
Currently, GSO communications satellites provide the majority of satellite internet services to Canadian users through communications service providers such as XplorNet. The GSO satellites typically provide long-term coverage over a large area by moving at the same angular velocity as the rotation of the Earth, with limited orbital decay.
The costs associated with sending a satellite into GSO are high (> $100 million, e.g. ViaSat-2 Ka-band satellite system costs estimated at $625 million155) and take into account build, launch, insurance and ground infrastructure.
In general, GSO satellite launches have a smaller payload capacity and require more propellant (leading to more mass) to reach orbit, which leads to higher costs per satellite, per launch compared to lower Earth orbit destinations.
GSO satellites are typically large (> 1,000 kg in mass e.g. ViaSat-2 is 6,400 kg), have long (planned) life spans (e.g. > 10 years) and, for communications purposes, carry technologies that enable large coverage areas and bandwidth (ViaSat-2 estimated at 350 Gbps). This enables satellite-based internet providers to serve a large number of consumers at higher bandwidth with a single satellite.
Of note, due to their orbit, data transmission times from GSO satellites will experience a path latency in excess of ~230 milliseconds. Although data packets are being transmitted at the same rate, because they are transmitted over time, longer latency delays lead to a distribution of network data over time, and can impact webpage load times.
References
154. Telesat. Our Fleet (2016). Accessed 18 May 2016.
155. Peter B. de Selding. ViaSat-2’s ‘First of its Kind’ Design Will Enable Broad Geographic Reach. Space News. 17 May 2013. Accessed 10 June 2016.