Satellite Broadband

If you cannot get an acceptable service from fixed ADSL services in Spaldwick and surrounding areas, satellite broadband provides an alternative. Given that homes in Spaldwick are, in principle, within adequate reach of the BT Woolley exchange, you should try to achieve as high a performance as you can from fixed ADSL broadband before considering alternatives.

To help you do this, please view our Increase Broadband Speed page so that you know that you’re getting the very best you can from your fixed broadband connection. You may find that, by adopting some of the tips such as fitting an ADSL filter faceplate, you will be able to achieve download speeds over 2Mbps, even with a poor line.

However, if you find that, even after following our tips, you get very poor broadband performance, then you may wish to consider alternatives, such as satellite broadband.

New broadband satellites – KA-SAT and HYLAS 1 – were launched in 2010

There have been a number of interesting developments recently in the use of satellites to provide high-quality broadband services to rural areas. In particular, new satellites have been launched, which promise better service and higher speeds than have previously been delivered using satellite broadband technology.

Towards the end of 2010, satellites were launched by two separate companies, which are dedicated to providing broadband Internet services to all areas of the UK. These are:

• the KA-SAT satellite, owned by Eutelsat. The satellite, which offers broadband Internet speeds of up to 10Mbps (download) and up to 4Mbps (upload), was launched in December 2010. The satellite is used for the TooWay consumer rural broadband service in Europe and the UK, launched at the end of May 2011

• the HYLAS 1 satellite, owned by Avanti. The satellite was launched in November 2010, and can offer download speeds of up to 10Mbps.

A number of satellite ISPs provide a range of services from these satellites. 

For example, the satellite ISP Broadband Wherever allows you order its new satellite broadband services on its website. It claims that rates are affordable, with services available from £1 per day.

Satellite broadband has a number of potential disadvantages compared with ADSL

Satellite broadband has the key advantage of being able to provide broadband Internet when no acceptable fixed ADSL service is available. This may be of great value to you if you cannot get an adequate ADSL service. However, compared with fixed ADSL services, satellite broadband services have a number of disadvantages:

• they require installation of a satellite dish, with an expensive up-front installation cost
• monthly charges are relatively expensive compared with fixed ADSL services (although you may regard them as affordable)
• monthly usage allowances are relatively low compared with fixed ADSL services, since the capacity available from the satellite is constrained
• since signals have to travel an extremely long distance to the satellite, and then have to be transmitted a long distance back to your satellite dish, the delay, or latency, is much higher than fixed ADSL services.