Will SpaceX provide the Solution to Rural Broadband?

[News]

Not sure how much coverage there have been of this part of the Space X mission:

SpaceX Will Launch the First of Its Global Internet Satellites

With the Heavy’s test flight complete, SpaceX is back to business as usual. Or maybe not. What seems like a routine launch this week may have greater implications for the company’s future and profits.

The launch’s primary mission is to deliver Paz, an observational satellite heavily financed by the Spanish Ministry of Defense, from the company’s pad in California. Paz won’t be riding alone on its recycled Falcon 9 though; SpaceX quietly loaded two experimental broadband satellites—built in-house—atop the rocket.

Read the full article here:

https://www.wired.com/story/watch-spacex-launch-the-first-of-its-global-internet-satellites/

Then, SpaceX wants to create an even larger constellation of over 7,500 of its satellites just 200 miles up which could help make them good on the pitch: making high-speed internet accessible anywhere on the globe. In a filing to the FCC, SpaceX explained that the experimental microsats being launched will help the company prove the basic infrastructure of the small spacecraft is sound and that the electronic systems housed inside work properly. Most importantly, in SpaceX needed the ability to test ground-to-space communications.

 

[Nearly]

@Neddy flanders

 

[Neddy flanders]

Probably the day after fibre turns up here

 

[Exfarmer]

I think a lot better would be todays news that the mobile companies are teaming up with the church of england to put aerials in church towers.
Some ten years after a similar deal in Italy solved there poor connections

 

[Clive]

I think a lot better would be todays news that the mobile companies are teaming up with the church of england to put aerials in church towers.
Some ten years after a similar deal in Italy solved there poor connections

does that not interfere with the connection to god ?

 

[Nearly]

She's online nowadays.

 

[steveR]

I think a lot better would be todays news that the mobile companies are teaming up with the church of england to put aerials in church towers.
Some ten years after a similar deal in Italy solved there poor connections

Hallelujah!! Finally....

They can be so compact now, so as to deal with the concerns about Grade 1 status ...?

 

[Dman2]

She's online nowadays.

She ???????????
Oh f**k

 

[fgc325j]

Not sure how much coverage there have been of this part of the Space X mission:

SpaceX Will Launch the First of Its Global Internet Satellites

With the Heavy’s test flight complete, SpaceX is back to business as usual. Or maybe not. What seems like a routine launch this week may have greater implications for the company’s future and profits.

The launch’s primary mission is to deliver Paz, an observational satellite heavily financed by the Spanish Ministry of Defense, from the company’s pad in California. Paz won’t be riding alone on its recycled Falcon 9 though; SpaceX quietly loaded two experimental broadband satellites—built in-house—atop the rocket.

Read the full article here:

https://www.wired.com/story/watch-spacex-launch-the-first-of-its-global-internet-satellites/

Hi , I've been using Satellite Broadband for approx. 7 years. www.europasat.com based in Bicester,
i find it very reliable.

 

[Exfarmer]

does that not interfere with the connection to god ?

Oh no , not another god thread !
Mods can you stop this hooligan

 

[Chris F]

Hi , I've been using Satellite Broadband for approx. 7 years. www.europasat.com based in Bicester,
i find it very reliable.

I looked when in Cornwall and found it was quite expensive, but that was 5 years ago. Whats it like now - launching satellites can't be cheap!

 

[Chris F]

Oh no , not another god thread !
Mods can you stop this hooligan

I'll give him a thread ban.

 

[steveR]

Hi , I've been using Satellite Broadband for approx. 7 years. www.europasat.com based in Bicester,
i find it very reliable.

Even in heavy rain and snow?

Looked at Sat last year and ruled it out, then came close... very close, to going for a Microwave then low and behold, FTTC arrived 8 weeks ago. Signed up for 12 months, but still not wunnerful, contention ratio looks to be hammering reliability at peak times (when I want to watch Rugby!!) May look again at microwave again next year...

 

[Chris F]

Even in heavy rain and snow?

Looked at Sat last year and ruled it out, then came close... very close, to going for a Microwave then low and behold, FTTC arrived 8 weeks ago. Signed up for 12 months, but still not wunnerful, contention ratio looks to be hammering reliability at peak times (when I want to watch Rugby!!) May look again at microwave again next year...

If you just think about this tech as broadband for your home, you might be missing the point. Imagine a system where your tractor is always connected to the broadband, or your sprayer and so on. Your own personal broadband connection that follows you wherever you go (even in Cornwall). It opens up lots of possibilities in the IoT and I'm sure they have thought of a few uses for theirs cars too.

 

[browny88]

Three HomeFi is the answer to rural broadband if you have good 4g signal as we do. Should be up from sub 1meg speed to 12 or more without trouble. And for £24 a month for 40gb limit.

Mobile technologies will probably advance faster than the government fund the telecom companies putting in better cable.

 

[fgc325j]

I looked when in Cornwall and found it was quite expensive, but that was 5 years ago. Whats it like now - launching satellites can't be cheap!

Hi there,
I started using Satellite Broadband in Dec 2010 and my connection speed was 100 times faster than
the previous standard BT cable, a welcome leap forward. I did take advantage of the Scheme set up by
the Welsh parliament where they covered the cost of setting up the dish and cable into the house. At the moment
i am paying £75 a quarter, yes - some would say expensive, but, in this area the we are in a poor spot for a
mobile signal as well. BT are, apparently, bringing fibre to this area, but every time i check the OPENREACH
w/site they inform me that it is coming soon - work in progress. I sometimes think that the authorities would
prefer if we still used pigeon post.

 

[Castle Farm]

After years complaining about the service BT provide (Signal around .5 ) We were told we have to live with it.as no chance of an upgrade, but sill paying top whack every month.
Seriously thinking about getting my chainsaw out.

 

[TechWise]

In my opinion, 5G mobile communications will render fibre broadband obsolete before many of us even get it!

 

[Lazy Sod]

I live in a hole only 1.35 miles from the mobile mast, so my mobile only works upstairs. Will 5G improve on that?

 

[TechWise]

I live in a hole only 1.35 miles from the mobile mast, so my mobile only works upstairs. Will 5G improve on that?

Although the standards have not yet been agreed for 5G, it will use higher frequency lower range radio waves which unfortunately doesn't bode well for coverage in hard to reach areas. I think the vision is that there will be lots of "microcells" in built up areas to ensure good coverage there and perhaps longer range base stations outwith these built up areas.

http://www.wired.co.uk/article/5g-rollout-uk-global