Satellite broadband could fill black-spots

New two-way satellite broadband could provide reliable internet connections for places which could not previously secure the service.

Eurosat is running the ground level operation for Astra2Connect, which offers 2Mbps download speeds and 128Kbps upload.

The system does not need an existing phone line to establish a connection, which means that it will not tie up the phone system or fail to work for households without a fixed line.

Mike Locke, special projects officer at Eurosat, revealed to Personal Computer World that installation is simple for people "who don't mind getting up a ladder".

Prices are equivalent to typical first-generation ADSL lines, although the service is not designed to compete with other high-speed broadband packages.

"We are targeting people who can't get broadband, offering them a faster alternative to dial-up," Mr Locke explained.

Northern Ireland communications minister Arlene Foster recently announced a £1.1 million plan to roll out satellite broadband in the country.