Satellite broadband has an important role to play in bringing internet access to rural communities across the country, according to the UK Space Agency.

The body's Space Leadership Council (SLC) has published a report highlighting the key impact that satellite broadband operators can have on improving current levels of coverage, both at home and abroad.

As well as providing an internet connection to homes and businesses that are beyond the reach of existing fixed and mobile broadband networks, the technology can help the UK compete more effectively in overseas markets, the study claimed.

The report was conducted by the Satellite Broadband Steering Group (SBSG), which was established last year and includes a team drawn from numerous major telecoms firms and organisations, such as BT, Ofcom and TalkTalk.

According to the authors, early services that relied on Ku-band satellites were typically seen as "slow and expensive", but a new generation of equipment that uses Ka-band spectrum is around 20 to 30 times more efficient at delivering broadband.

David Willetts, co-chair of the SLC and minister for universities and science, said the space telecoms sector is "essential" to numerous sectors of the country's economy.

"The launch of 'next-generation' satellite broadband services by companies such as Avanti means we can now properly address the challenge of universal broadband access for our most remote communities," he added.

Despite the positive message, chairman of the SBSG Lowry Stanage admitted: "Ultimately the market will decide how successful satellite services are in the UK and overseas."

Avanti Communications' Hylas-1 satellite entered orbit last November and is now providing broadband services in the UK and across Europe.

Another operator, Eutelsat, launched its KaSat satellite on Boxing Day and has been offering capacity in the UK since the end of last month, while North American service ViaSat has secured around half a million subscribers in the US.

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07th September 2009

Older people 'missing out' online, but how many? The UK Government will miss its commitment. In a report in July 2006, just 28% of people over the age of 65 have home internet access. The findings were part of a wider survey by a consumer panel at telecoms regulator Ofcom looking at the online access of marginalised groups. Following this report, the UK government signed up to an EU agreement to halve the gap in internet use for groups at risk of exclusion, such as older people, by 2010. Of particular concern is that more government services, including benefits, are being offered online and without training to access them, many older people will miss out. According to the Office of National Statistics‚ 2008, 70% of people over 65 have never used the internet. Although I sincerely hoped there would be an improvement, and that the Government will have halved the 2006 figures of internet excluded citizens over 65 year olds by 2010, new research by the Office for National Statistics reveals that more than 64% of people over 65 have never used the internet. August 28th 2009. It looks like the UK Government will significantly miss it's commitment. Lilla Harris www.finerfamily.com "The UK Government has just committed to halve the gap in internet usage by 2010 for groups at risk of exclusion such as older people" Ofcom Consumer Panel 5 July 2006