Satellites at work

Broadband Internet

DID YOU KNOW?

Citizens anywhere in Europe can be connected to broadband Internet NOW thanks to satellite. For satellite, it makes no difference whether they live on mountains, in protected natural countryside or in sparsely populated areas.

> Find your local satellite broadband distributor

The EU still suffers from a digital divide. At least 9 million households are not covered by any terrestrial broadband solution. Satellite is helping across EU Member States.

What is satellite broadband?

Internet-by-satellite, also referred to as satellite broadband, is a high-speed bi-directional Internet connection made via communications satellites instead of a telephone landline or other terrestrials means. Today satellite broadband is completely comparable with DSL broadband in terms of both performance and cost with commercial offerings of 20 Mbit/s often with triple play (internet, TV and voice with the same internet). Whilst fibre offers superior performance, it typically takes time and is more expensive to roll out and so will not be available to all users within a reasonable time frame if ever. On the contrary, satellite solutions are available immediately: the only broadband solution for those who live in areas without or with slow terrestrial or wireless/mobile broadband access.

Is it Affordable?

Monthly subscriptions compare with equivalent performance ADSL offers. In Europe, subscriptions start from around 10 €/month and service packages vary, starting at download speeds of 2 Mbps and 2 GB of monthly volume up to 20 Mbps download from 25.95 €/month. As with terrestrial offers, prices vary a lot across Europe: for satellite broadband, these variations are mainly due to the level of competition in each region. Users connected with satellite broadband need to have a dish and modem. The average purchase price for a satellite dish is 350€, however it can by less for higher tariff customers. This ground equipment is eligible for European public funding and some Member States have used this opportunity to connect their regions cost-effectively & quickly.