Are VPN and Satellite Internet Networking Compatible? GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Internet, Networking, & Security > Home Networking 66 66 people found this article helpful

VPN and Satellite Internet Service Compatibility

You can make them work together—barely

By Bradley Mitchell Bradley Mitchell Writer Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of Illinois An MIT graduate who brings years of technical experience to articles on SEO, computers, and wireless networking. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on January 22, 2020 Tweet Share Email Pushp Deep Pandey / 2kPhotography/Getty Images Tweet Share Email Home Networking The Wireless Connection Routers & Firewalls Network Hubs ISP Broadband Ethernet Installing & Upgrading Wi-Fi & Wireless Virtual private networking and satellite internet technologies were not designed to work together. Two technical limitations of satellite internet service—high latency and slow upload speed—greatly affect the performance of a VPN.

Technical Limitations of Satellite Service for VPN

Virtual private networks require a connection with high bandwidth and low latency to function efficiently. Satellite internet services normally suffer high latencies because of the long distance that satellite signals must travel. Most satellite internet services tend to support low-upstream bandwidth. Satellite bandwidth for uploads is much slower than for downloads, and not much faster than that of dial-up internet services. VPNs demand high bandwidth for both uploads and downloads.

Challenges for Satellite and VPN Compatibility

Despite these limitations, it is technically possible to use most VPN solutions with most satellite internet services. The following caveats apply: The overall performance of a VPN connection over satellite is poor. VPN over satellite often performs at the speed of a dial-up internet connection. Satellite providers generally do not offer technical support or service guarantees to VPN users. Satellite providers commonly deploy a performance-boosting technique called IP spoofing as part of their service. This IP spoofing interferes with your computer's ability to establish VPN connections. For VPNs to work with satellite internet, the provider must have some provision to bypass IP spoofing for VPN connections. The same compatibility issues that exist between VPNs and personal firewalls, and between VPNs and internet connection sharing software, apply for satellites as with other types of internet service. To determine if a given VPN client or protocol works with a satellite service, consult the satellite provider. While they may not offer technical support, providers usually list general compatibility information about VPNs on their websites. Limitations may vary depending on the package you subscribe to. Business or Telecommuter services, for example, tend to offer more VPN support than Residential services. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Fix an IPv6 No Network Access Error Types of Network Connections Can I Share Dial Up Internet Service Over a Wireless Network? How to Set Up a VPN on Mac How to Hide IP Address on iPhone What Are Private 5G Networks? The 9 Best Internet Service Providers of 2022 How to Fix a VPN That's Not Connecting What Is Bandwidth Throttling? Why Does Anyone Do It? One Home Network Sharing Two Internet Connections How Fast Is a Cellphone Modem for Wireless Internet? What Is a Public IP Address? (and How to Find Yours) What Is a VPN? What Causes Network Lag and How to Fix It How to Share Internet Access Opera vs. Google Chrome Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies