Broadband Guide

Satellite broadband

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Satellite broadband could soon be providing internet access at speeds of up to 10mb across the UK. And that applies even if you live in a remote area where you can't currently get fixed-line or mobile broadband (28/07/09).

Satellite broadband deals

Supplier	Package details	Speed (up to)	1st year cost	Monthly charge	Download limit	Go
	Basic Broadband	4Mb	£1,119.00	£35.00	2.4GB
	Bronze Broadband	4Mb	£1,239.00	£45.00	4GB
	Silver Broadband	4Mb	£1,359.00	£55.00	6GB
	Gold Broadband	4Mb	£2,079.00	£115.00	12GB

Unlike standard internet connections, satellite broadband does not require wires or cable dug under the ground to connect you to the internet. There are currently three main providers of satellite broadband in the UK: Tariam, Eutelsat and Astra.

Is satellite broadband for me?

The speeds on offer from satellite broadband connections are likely to increase over time.

At the time of writing, Astra offers speeds of up to 2Mb throughout the UK. Tariam already offers 3.6Mb broadband throughout the UK and Eutelsat is aiming to provide 10Mb speeds by next year. However, even 10Mb speeds are still much slower than the up to 24Mb broadband speeds offered by fixed-line internet services providers such as O2 Broadband (www.O2.co.uk) and the up to 50Mb speeds from Virgin Media (www.VirginMedia.com).

However, one of the upsides of broadband via satellite is that there is no need to be connected to the UK's fixed-line network - a problem for many people living in a remote part of the UK. Added to this, the quality of the service does not decrease the further away you live from an exchange. You receive your signal via a satellite.

If you're limited to getting broadband via satellite, you should be heartened by the findings of a recent survey which showed that fixed-line speeds often fall far below advertised headline speeds. The Broadbandchoices.co.uk Speed Tester has revealed that the average connection speed for an 8Mb broadband package was just 3.59Mb. Furthermore, entire sections of the UK population are limited to speeds of 1Mb or less as their local phone exchange can’t handle higher speeds.

What else should I know about satellite broadband?

To get satellite broadband you will need to have a satellite dish installed, as well as a transmitter in order to send data. The initial installation cost for installation from Astra starts at £300 for self-install and there is a monthly cost of around £18, Tarium offer full installation for around £750 and their monthly cost starts from under £40.

One minor concern for satellite broadband is that it may be affected in extreme weather conditions. However, Eutelsat’s broadband is transmitted at a very high frequency so disturbances are unlikely, and if you are in the Outer Hebrides during a hurricane then poor broadband connection may be the least of your worries.

The verdict on satellite broadband

Satellite broadband installation costs are much higher than conventional fixed-line broadband. However, satellite broadband may provide the perfect solution to those who can’t get a broadband connection through a copper phone line or cable line.

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