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What is Satellite Broadband?

Satellite broadband does what it says on the tin. Instead of other methods of connecting broadband, like fibre, satellite broadband connects via a satellite that is in geostationary orbits. Pretty cool, right? An ISP will transmit the broadband from their satellite dish, to this satellite, which then sends it back down to a satellite dish connected to a property.

How can this benefit me?

This method isn’t as widely used and championed as its other counterparts, but it can be a desirable respite from slow internet speeds in areas that have no other suitable alternatives. Rural areas, forests and islands all benefit from this technology, which operates through a satellite dish with a clear line to the south sky. Chances are, if you’ve connected to Wi-Fi on a plane or boat, you’ve probably experienced satellite broadband! Although, as a young technology, speeds aren’t as fast as fibre yet, speeds comparable to ADSL broadband are easily achievable and comes with the added bonus of being landline-free, meaning you don’t need a home phone to operate it!

Okay, but what are the flaws?

All of this is not to say that this service isn’t without its issues. One of the main issues faced with satellite broadband users is that of latency. Latency is the delay before a transfer of data begins following an instruction for its transfer. As satellite has to travel huge distances between requests, latency can be high for users, rendering applications like online first-person shooters to be frustrating and sometimes inoperable. These connection woes can be exacerbated through other issues, namely weather and interference. As mentioned previously, satellite requires a clear line between a dish and the satellite in space, which can be interfered with by weather conditions, such as rainstorms as well as other wireless signals. Although possibly not enough to knock the broadband out completely, it can prove to be frustrating for users.

Satellite broadband can also prove to be quite expensive. Installation costs can surprise people looking in to the service and monthly packages tend to be more expensive than other broadband options, with unlimited satellite broadband packages being unheard of. Customers are usually presented with a range of options that have increasing monthly data usage caps.

All of that sounds great, but I’m worried about the cost!

Completely understandable. The good news is that there are provisions in place to h elp those who can’t secure a fast enough broadband speed through standard broadband or fibre. We here at Digital Durham work alongside with Broadband Delivery UK (or BDUK for short) to help those who need a satellite connection. BDUK are part of the Department for Culture, Media & Sport and provide customers with a £350 voucher code to help them cover the hardware installation costs. To read more about the Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme and to apply, head on over here! Once you’ve applied, there’s a few checks we need to do to make sure you’re suitable for the scheme before we process it, so please, hold tight with us whilst we work our way through it!