Satellite broadband can help the government meet its target of delivering universal broadband on a tight budget, according to Avanti Communications.

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt admitted in a letter to MPs last week that the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition has only ring-fenced half of the money required to roll out super-fast broadband across the UK.

Although £530 million of public cash will be made available over the course of the current parliament, local authorities have been charged with finding the same amount again from private backers, European funding and their own budgets.

Responding to the news, satellite broadband operator Avanti praised the honesty of Mr Hunt's letter and argued it is not the government's job to pay for everyone to have access to the "luxury" of a fibre optic connection.

Instead, the company argued the rollout of fibre broadband - which could cost "tens of billions of pounds" - should be fulfilled through market forces rather than public subsidy.

Avanti said the government's focus on delivering 2Mbps speeds to consumers and businesses in rural areas can be achieved by taking advantage of satellite broadband technology, which it claimed can bring up to 10Mbps access to anyone in the UK, regardless of their location.

The provider pointed out that "thousands" of householders across the country are already receiving its internet service.

"In order to avoid social exclusion at the margins of society, Avanti is pleased to work with local and national government to ensure that the neediest members of our rural economies get service as soon as possible," the company remarked.

"We encourage all local authorities to prioritise this, so that the greatest need is tackled first."

Avanti's comments come just days after the UK Space Agency's Space Leadership Council published a report backing the use of satellite broadband to deliver internet access to the UK's most remote communities.

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12th July 2011

The key points are that satellite is both a viable and cost effective solution to rural communities who cannot get fixed line ADSL. Organisations like the BDUK, need to promote satellite, and remove some of the earlier stigma attached to these type of services. Satellite is now cost effect, faster, and so easy to deploy with no need to develop costly land based infrastructure. Instead of satellite always being considered a last resort, after all else fails, satellite should be considered the first option over wireless, and 3G.