Report: more users turn to satellite for broadband

Stewart Mitchell Read more June 22, 2012

Satellite and mobile phone connections are increasingly being used as primary internet connections, with subscriber numbers picking up globally.

Report: more users turn to satellite for broadband

According to research from broadband analyst Point Topic, the arrival of Ka band satellite services with improved performance has seen the technology grow, and while it still represents fewer than 2% of total connections, it’s seen as a key technology for poorly connected areas.

”Satellite and mobile, as the primary home broadband connection, are putting on subscribers at an increasing rate,” Point Topic said in a report that showed total broadband subscribers had passed the 600 million mark.

“This reflects the consumers’ desire for a broadband connection, even when the most cost effective fixed technologies aren’t available,” Point Topic said, with a spokesperson telling PC Pro that satellite connections had grown 9% over the last year.

The launch of two-way services and prices falling to around £15 per month mean some people see satellite as a viable option for properties that are hard to reach by wire.

“The launch of the Ka band satellites in America and Europe is also making an impact,” Point Topic said. “The step change in bandwidths and costs have moved the space-based technology closer to the market average for consumers and they are voting with their feet.”