Like many of those living in rural areas, Ms Bainbridge found fixed line broadband was too slow to meet the demands of everyday life.
As an alternative, Ms Bainbridge and partner Cllr James Cosslett signed up to a Starlink ultrafast satellite broadband service, offering speeds of around 100 Megabits per second (Mbps).
Reliable broadband
Cllr Cosslett said “Working as a physio, Ms Bainbridge needs a reliable broadband connection for calls and video appointments, which she wasn’t getting on fixed line broadband. We chose satellite broadband over 4G due to a poor mobile signal in Hamsterley Forest. We ordered Starlink and it was delivered in two weeks!”
With Starlink, users can engage in activities that historically have not been possible with satellite internet such as streaming, video calls and gaming. Starlink’s high-speed service is made possible through the world’s largest constellation of advanced satellites operating in a low orbit around the Earth.
Easy set up
“It was easy to set up. We downloaded the Starlink app onto our mobile phone, which told us the best place to put the satellite dish. Living in a forest, we found the middle of the garden was best for service, but even though the dish is small, we didn’t like having it there. So we paid for a private contractor to fix it to the roof.”
There is a one-off cost to buy the hardware (small satellite receiver, WiFi router, cables and base) which is £460 (currently reduced to £300 for a limited time) and then an additional monthly subscription charge of £75.
Starlink can adjust terms and pricing as needed (notably the costs reduced late 2022), and customers can cancel at any time (there’s no long-term contract). You can try the service for 30 days and, if not satisfied, return the hardware for a full refund.
Starlink kit can withstand extreme temperatures, heavy rain and winds and has a built-in regulator to melt snow and frost on colder days without disruption to service.
“Now we can work at the same time without interruption. It just works amazingly. If you’re in a rural area – it’s worth it.” Cllr Cosslett added.
Customer service
Users need a smart phone or tablet to download the Starlink app that connects to the router and allows you to set up the satellite dish and online account.
The app also hosts the customer service portal which is the company’s only contact route for customers. Cllr Cosslett said “We didn’t get to speak to another person when we had a query. It’s all done online through the app.”
To find out more about satellite and other solutions visit our alternative broadband solutions page.
