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Is satellite broadband the answer for rural communities?

Our Broadband Expert says...

Despite news headlines shouting about superfast broadband and fibre optic networks, many people around the UK still struggle to get speeds of even 2Mb - while an estimated 4,000 homes are in “notspots” and cannot get online at all.

The government says it wants to build the best broadband network in Europe by 2015, bringing speeds of at least 25Mb to 90% of the country.

But if you're unable to get online now - or are worried that you might be in the 10% that’s left out of the government’s superfast plans - what options do you have?

Satellite broadband

Satellite broadband offers internet access no matter where you live. As long as you're in reach of the satellite signal, you'll be able to get online.

Satellite broadband provider Eutelsat recently launched a new satellite to cover Europe and the UK. Its Tooway system already offers speeds of up to 10Mb to consumers across the continent and up to 40Mb broadband connections to business users.

This will soon rise to speeds of up to 50Mb broadband and upload speeds of up to 20Mb for business customers, says Eutelsat.

“With Tooway there is no need for a telephone line,” says the company. “So, if you have no access to ADSL or if the performance of you current internet access is unsatisfactory, Tooway gives you simple, fast and reliable access to high speed internet.

“Satellite internet access guarantees the same high level of performance in every location, regardless of landscape: on the top of a mountain, in the middle of the countryside, in a small isolated village. All you need is a satellite dish and a modem.”

What are the drawbacks?

Although satellite broadband sounds like the perfect solution to any rural broadband problem, there are a few drawbacks.

Although it currently offers consumer speeds of up to 10Mb, these are the most expensive services, and affordable packages usually offer top speeds closer to 4Mb or 6Mb.

Download allowances are also much lower than standard home broadband, with most packages offering around 4GB a month - making them unsuitable for online TV catch-ups, gaming or downloads. You can get allowances of as much as 25GB, but this could set you back £99.99 a month.

Which brings us to cost; prices have come down in recent years but cost remains one of the biggest barriers against satellite broadband use.

How much does it cost?

There are three costs involved in setting up a satellite broadband connection:

• Equipment: Most satellite providers now allow you to either buy your hardware upfront - which usually costs £199.99 - or rent it at a monthly rate of £9.99 (though you might be forced to choose the more expensive professional installation option if you rent your equipment)
• Installation: Your provider can send a professional engineer to install your equipment, which usually costs £99.99, or you have install it yourself using a DIY kit priced at around £49.99. Some providers also allow you to find your own engineer to install your dish and modem
• Monthly cost: The price you pay each month will depend on the speed of your connection and how much data you use. The faster your connection and the higher your download allowance, the more you will have to pay each month. Package prices typically start at around £24.99 a month going up to £99.99 for a 10Mb connection with a 25GB allowance.

You might also have to pay for your satellite broadband modem, which could cost as much as £99.99 - though providers often offer discounts. So bear this in mind when comparing satellite providers.

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