Broadband News
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First two way broadband satellite set for take off
26 Nov 2010 | 11.06 Europe/London
Europe's first two-way broadband satellite is due to launch this evening. Avanti's HYLAS I will offer rural broadband speeds of 2Mbp/s, and beyond, in the New Year.
The satellite offers the first two way broadband connection, meaning that, just like ADSL, the satellite will handle both downloads and uploads. Previously satellite systems have been potentially let down by the back link, or uploads, not being routed via the satellite. In areas which have no fixed line broadband, satellite’s key hunting ground, this has meant comparatively fast downloads are let down by pedestrian uploads over slow fixed line connections. HYLAS 1 is estimated to be able to handle 300,000 customers, most of whom will come from the UK and Spain, Avanti believes
Two way connection
Avanti will be selling the two way broadband services wholesale and so cannot control the final price point but the estimate is that a 2Mbp/s connection will cost around £25 per month. There is the possibility that some service providers will go beyond this and offer rural homes and businesses connections of up to 8Mbp/s or 10Mbp/s.
There will still be the problem of slower ping rates and latency because the signal has to travel so far. While this may make affect VoIP and online games services, the expectation is it should not affect more everyday web, IPTV and email use.
Eutelsat following soon
Europe’s first two way satellite will soon be joined by a larger rival. Eutelsat's KA-SAT is estimated to be able to handle a million users at the same time on its Tooway service, offering downloads of up to 10Mbp/s and uploads of up to 5Mbp/s. It is on schedule to launch on December 20th.
It will make the New Year a very interesting time for rural homes and businesses who may have previously been put off satellite by the high installation costs and very slow upload speeds.
Those in rural or suburban areas with no decent ADSL service will doubtless be looking to the new two-way satellites’ resellers to see if they can offer attractive pricing, as well as more generous monthly data limits and reasonable installation costs that may encouarge them to reconsider satellite broadband technology.
The satellite offers the first two way broadband connection, meaning that, just like ADSL, the satellite will handle both downloads and uploads. Previously satellite systems have been potentially let down by the back link, or uploads, not being routed via the satellite. In areas which have no fixed line broadband, satellite’s key hunting ground, this has meant comparatively fast downloads are let down by pedestrian uploads over slow fixed line connections. HYLAS 1 is estimated to be able to handle 300,000 customers, most of whom will come from the UK and Spain, Avanti believes
Two way connection
Avanti will be selling the two way broadband services wholesale and so cannot control the final price point but the estimate is that a 2Mbp/s connection will cost around £25 per month. There is the possibility that some service providers will go beyond this and offer rural homes and businesses connections of up to 8Mbp/s or 10Mbp/s.
There will still be the problem of slower ping rates and latency because the signal has to travel so far. While this may make affect VoIP and online games services, the expectation is it should not affect more everyday web, IPTV and email use.
Eutelsat following soon
Europe’s first two way satellite will soon be joined by a larger rival. Eutelsat's KA-SAT is estimated to be able to handle a million users at the same time on its Tooway service, offering downloads of up to 10Mbp/s and uploads of up to 5Mbp/s. It is on schedule to launch on December 20th.
It will make the New Year a very interesting time for rural homes and businesses who may have previously been put off satellite by the high installation costs and very slow upload speeds.
Those in rural or suburban areas with no decent ADSL service will doubtless be looking to the new two-way satellites’ resellers to see if they can offer attractive pricing, as well as more generous monthly data limits and reasonable installation costs that may encouarge them to reconsider satellite broadband technology.