Beating the recession with broadband
“We know that every aspect of our lives - every school, every hospital, every workplace and even every home - will depend on the services the digital network provides. It is as essential to our future prosperity in the 21st century as roads, bridges, trains and electricity were in the 20th century. And building these bridges to the future will need a clear lead from government combined with a strategic partnership between the private and public sectors.” – Prime Minister Gordon Brown

On 29th January 2009, the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, announced plans to roll out high-speed Internet to every person in the UK by 2012. Barack Obama has made a similar promise to the American people – universal broadband. In fact, both leaders view broadband as a way in which they can help their respective countries out of recession.

There is no doubt that it is incredibly important for the UK and the U.S. to have a top-class broadband infrastructure. Today, it is vital for business, for education, healthcare, the banking system, enforcement agencies and many more sectors. We live in a broadband society. The fast-paced nature of the society that we live in means that access to broadband is an absolute must - it’s not really a choice anymore. In fact, everyone benefits from a broadband connection, no matter where they are. Quite simply, it changes lives.

This objective will not be met without the use of satellite, but it was very disappointing to find that satellite technology was marginalised in the grand plans of both Brown and Obama, being viewed as just a niche technology. Just over 40 percent of the UK population have access to broadband. Perhaps this is a surprisingly low figure for a leading world economy but the fact is, like in any other country and continent across the world – like Africa, like Asia – there are always underserved areas that are rural and isolated, and often forgotten. In May 2008, Ofcom said that the take up of broadband in rural areas had overtaken those living in the cities. However, this was puzzling for those actually living in rural areas who are, even now, still unable to get even dial-up on an ADSL line, never mind high-speed broadband.

These announcements have been a bit of a disappointment to many as there has been no specification on how this objective is going to be met. What technologies will be used for rural areas? Are they going to roll out more cable? Will they use a combination of cable and satellite? What is needed is decisive action and a heavier emphasis on satellite’s capabilities. If Gordon Brown is going to meet his broadband objectives by 2012, then he needs to move very quickly.
The fact that access to broadband via satellite is available anywhere in the world means that there is no need for any community to miss out on its benefits. Where there is no terrestrial infrastructure or it is too expensive to install, such as in remote rural areas, satellite can deliver broadband regardless of terrain and location so the huge benefits of having a broadband connection to the outside world can help communities compete in the same environment as those in the cities. Businesses can be built up and marketed, children can have access to learning tools that they otherwise would not have, communities can have access to e-health services – there are so many applications. The whole community benefits from broadband and it means that they are no longer excluded and can enjoy the tools and services that those with a terrestrial infrastructure can.

For those who are in remote locations, we think of broadband as being out of reach, but with the help of satellite, broadband can literally reach anywhere and can deliver these benefits to all. Nobody should be missing out on a career, education or healthcare that can be provided by broadband services and businesses can boom through its use. So yes, in theory, Mr. Brown and Mr. Obama could alleviate some of the strain on the economy with a comprehensive broadband infrastructure to help create wealth and prosperity but using satellite is the only way to provide broadband to every corner of the globe. We should be using it at every opportunity and the politicians should be talking to the industry to make this happen, and to push the UK and U.S. up to the top of the list of those countries they currently lag behind in the broadband stakes.

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