The World Of Satellite Broadband - Is It The Solution For You?

The World Of Satellite Broadband - Is It The Solution For You?

Satellite broadband could shortly be supplying internet access with speeds as much as 10Mb, all over the UK;even if you reside in an isolated area where you are unable to get a fixed-line or mobile broadband connection.

Satellite broadband deals
Isolated and rural areas have been suffering broadband woes for a very long time – that’s where satellite broadband comes in. Satellite broadband is a choice available for those users who live in rural or remote areas where traditional fixed-line based broadband services aren't available.

At the moment satellite broadband technology accounts for only 2 per cent of all internet connections. However there are reports predicting growth in this sector, both in consumer uptake and product versatility. The worldwide subscribers are also expected to rise by a large proportion as prices plummet due to decreasing technology cost.

Satellite broadband does not need a setup of cables or wires to connect your residence to the internet, which is a major advantage over standard connections requiring a wire based setup linked into telephone exchanges. Satellite broadband is the epitome of wireless-ness.

There are three major satellite broadband providers in the UK, namely Tariam, Eutelsat and Astra.

Should I get satellite broadband?
Satellite broadband uses a satellite dish to provide access to broadband services. However speeds are normally lower than standard connections. The major advantage of satellite broadband is that it can be provided virtually anywhere on the globe. It is as an option to fill in broadband connection in areas that are hard to reach, or are unlikely to receive a wired or mobile connection; but for many, it doesn't provide a service as good as fixed broadband products.

The satellite broadband download speeds up to 2010 were only up to 3.6Mb. However, Eutelsat finished its developments in satellite Internet in 2010, which allowed the download speed to increase threefold.
The download limits are also relatively small compared to a fixed-line connection.

The cheapest package provides download allowanced of only around 2GB per month. This highlights how satellite broadband is unsuitable for heavy usage, such as downloading large amounts of data and files etc. The expensive packages provide around 10-30GB per month of download allowance, which typically costs more than £100.

Satellite broadband is also much less reliable than standard connections. The broadband signal has to travel a long, long way (up to the satellite) so there is high latency, and can be data loss, or even transmission failure. This makes it an unsuitable choice for online gaming, online TV services, video conferencing and other real time applications that require a high speed reliable internet connection.

Independent Broadband
Despite the few drawbacks, the biggest advantage of satellite broadband is that it does not need to be connected to the UK's fixed-line network. Dependence on the BT copper network is a big problem for people who live in isolated parts of the UK. Satellite broadband transmits the broadband signal via satellite so you can receive the signals wherever you reside. Satellite broadband means you can be totally independent of standard broadband networks.

What else do I need to know about satellite broadband?
In order to use satellite broadband, you will need to install a satellite dish (which is not a small one) along with a transmitter to be able to send data. The primary installation cost is a expensive, regardless of the provider you select. It can be around £300 if you install it manually yourself and it can go as high as £700 if you want a professional to come and install it. The majority of suppliers charge a connection fee of around £30. You will also require a satellite modem and a broadband router. Most providers give these for free along with the installation, but sometimes you have to pay for them separately.

In addition to the expensive set-up costs, the monthly satellite broadband fee is also higher than standard fixed-line connections, or mobile broadband connections. The monthly package costs can range from £20 to £35 for a very basic package.

Another small concern for people using satellite broadband is that extreme weather conditions can affect the connection. Heavy snow, rain or high winds are part and parcel of remote regions normally and these can all impede the signal. Satellite broadband requires a clear undisturbed line of sight between the satellite and the dish, and if anything gets in the way of this, like moisture in rain, then it may cause problems in the link.

Normal rain showers shouldn’t affect connection but a large storm could render you broadband-less.
Eutesat now transmits its broadband signals at a very high frequency so it is doubtful that there will be too much disturbance with this provider. If the weather is extreme you should not expect decent connectivity though.

The decision on satellite broadband
The installation and set-up costs of Satellite broadband are much higher than for standard conventional fixed-line broadband. Satellite broadband is also well below cable based connections in terms data transfer speed. Despite these facts, Satellite broadband offers a solution where no other may exist.It provides connectivity to those users who are unable to get a connection on a copper or a fibre line. It is not a cheap option but if you need internet connectivity, and can’t get online by any other means, then you should probably look at Satellite broadband.

Find out when your area is getting mobile and fixed broadband
If you are considering satellite broadband then you should first find out when super fast broadband is going to be rolled out to your area. There are plans afoot to bring fibre to much of the UK, and 4G mobile broadband is on its way to much of the UK too. Both of these options are probably preferable to satellite broadband. If you have a service arriving in a few months you will feel silly if you have just forked out £700 to install satellite broadband and won’t need it anymore.

Satellite broadband technology is expected to keep on improving and providing better speeds and reliability in the future. Great news for the marine industry and for those people on land that have no prospects for the arrival of fixed line broadband.

Phil Turner considered satellite broadband after he moved to a really remote part of the country. Before he made any final decision he checked out deals and the availability of other broadband connections by using online price comparisod n sites like uSwitch.

What Is Satellite Broadband?

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Satellite broadband is available to all in the UK, however, you have to decide if it is the right option for you.  You should do research to find out what satellite broadband really is.  Check the connection speeds that are on offer and if there are extra charges that apply to satellite that do not normally apply to traditional broadband deals.  There are also distinct advantages and disadvantages linked to broadband by satellite.

What is it?
This option is available for those in the UK who are unable to access other broadband internet connections.  This generally applies to those who live in the rural areas where ADSL and fibre optic services are not available.  The method of connection with this method is extremely involved.  The broadband for this method is picked up off a satellite dish.  The consumer will be provided with a satellite dish that connects to a satellite that is orbiting the earth, and this relayed satellite signal is relayed to the service provider’s hub which, in turn, is relayed back to the customer via the same path.

Is it worth obtaining?
The data transmission process involved with this method of broadband sets it up for problems and may not be a viable option for most people.  The speeds offered have increased dramatically over the past few years and you can now obtain speeds of 2Mbps up to 20Mbps.  The download speeds makes it comparable to ADSL broadband speed, however the upload speed is still much slower with an average speed of around 6Mbps.  This would definitely make it non-viable for commercial enterprises.

The data allowance limits for this type of broadband varies from around 10GB to unlimited.  The cost of the packages related to higher data allowance limits is a problem due to the cost.  You may have to pay around £16 for 2GB of data allowance.

The connection is very unstable and unreliable compared to other broadband options.  The main reason for this problem is that it feeds off satellite transmissions that can be affected by the weather and other external factors.  This will be a problem for consumers who wish to use the service for online gaming, online television transmission and video streaming.

Latency
The very nature of this broadband leaves it open to latency.  Latency can be termed as the delay or lag in transmission.  The signal is required to travel to a satellite and then travel to the internet service provider’s hub and it is this distance between all the points of transmission that causes the problem.  You will always experience a delay in the conversation if you are speaking to a person in another country via your satellite connection.  In this case you will find a delay between speaking and the person on the other end hearing what you have just said.  Although this may only be a one second delay it can become extremely frustrating because at some point you tend to speak over each other all the time.  This latency will cause you to stop using certain services that are available to you such as video conferencing, online gaming and VOIP services.

Weather Interference
When satellite broadband was first made available to consumers, the weather was a huge factor in the effectiveness of the service.  Nowadays, this is not as big a problem, but it still is a problem.  For this type of service to be effective, you need to have a line of sight between the transmission satellite dish and the satellite.  If there is anything blocking this path such as moisture, clouds or any man-made objects, the signal will be disrupted.  Normal rain showers no longer affect the connection because the transmission frequency has been increased over the last few years, but if there is a more severe storm, you will more than likely lose connection completely.

Additional Costs
You may be liable for additional costs if you choose this form of broadband.  The first cost you will have to face is the installation.  You will require a special satellite dish as well as a transmitter.  The cost for the installation of this equipment could be up to a few hundred pounds.  Additionally, there may be a set up fee payable for the account set up.  The set up fee is normally lower if your hardware cost is high, although this is not applicable to all providers as some of them may charge you high costs for both services.  Most of the service providers seem to work on a theory of ‘high monthly fee, low hardware and setup fee.’

Telephone Line
The one cost benefit to this method of internet connection is that you do not need a landline connection.  This will definitely be a cost saving for you.  The one problem that you may be facing however is that if your residence is in an area where there is no traditional broadband connection, you may not have mobile phone coverage either, so you will have to have a landline telephone.

Who are the Service Providers?
There are five service providers for this type of service in the UK.  These are:
  • Avonline
  • Broadband Wherever
  • Rural Broadband
  • Satellite Internet
  • Tooway
The packages that these providers offer vary in stability and price.  Prior to signing a contract with a service provider you should ensure that you know exactly what they are offering you.  Your best bet is to speak to your neighbours and friends about the service that the providers offer.  Find out the cost, the stability of the connection and the possible costs that you may be liable for.  Compare the services offered from all the providers who operate in your area before you make a decision.

Satellite broadband should be your last choice as the problematic method of connection and high costs are not worth it.  If you are able to get another form of broadband connection, you will do better to choose that.  Satellite is unable to offer the same stability and connection speeds of traditional broadband services.

The use of satellite broadband could make life much easier for Phil Turner.  uSwitch helped him to located deals that were great value for money and that would meet his requirements.