Throughput

Throughput is defined as the total volume of the data that is allowed to be transferred (a sum of both upload and download activity). It is usually measured in gigabytes and calculated on a per month basis by any Internet service provider. Most satellite Internet companies also enforce a Fixed Access Policy or FAP which acts as a bandwidth cap for the metered service. A FAP will decrease a user's throughput after a certain amount of data transfers occur (i.e. either the speed at which they can access the data is reduced or they are charged for the additional data downloaded at a per MB basis). This amount is variable and depends upon the provider and ensures that all the subscribers have equal access to the service.

The throughput limitations generally do not apply to users who use the service typically for low bandwidth applications but may be critical to businesses that have bandwidth intensive operations.