Satellite delivery of next generation broadband access to the UK

Abstract

In response to the Digital Britain Interim Report published in the UK in 2009, which mandated that every home must have access to broadband at 2Mbps, Avanti is developing HERCULES — a two satellite multi-spot beam Ka-band system covering the UK and Ireland. HERCULES is designed to provide Universal Service Commitment (USC) services in the UK to two million homes (10% of the population) and Next Generation Access (NGA) services to over 500,000 homes. Delivering Digital Britain requires an approach that uses a mix of available communications technologies. Broadband satellites will always be a part of the solution as they can provide ubiquitous coverage across the whole UK land mass and can connect users in rural areas far more economically than other networks. Access to broadband services is not confined to the UK. Countries all around the world struggle with the same issues and satellite will play a key role in broadband delivery. Today there are approximately 1.25million subscribers in North America and additional Ka-band satellite capacity is planned to come on line with Viasat's Viasat 1 and Hughes' Jupiter multi spot beam satellites. Australia and France are planning to procure dedicated Ka-band satellites to provide domestic broadband services. Meeting the UN's Millennium Development Goals, particularly in regard to ICT Capacity Building, will depend on the widespread availability of broadband connectivity in rural areas of developing regions. Satellite will be a key delivery mechanism to developing economies in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and South America.