Optus ensures a continuous loop of signal in and out of the facility by monitoring as a broadcast is sent over the fibre network or microwave to the Sydney earth station, as it is beamed up to the satellite and back down into these smaller receiving dishes. These smaller dishes are not unlike the ones regional broadband users may have on the roof of their house - any bigger, says Optus Satellite Director Paul Sheridan, and it would be "cheating". Using smaller dishes for this monitoring, Optus can watch a broadcast just as a user would.