Internet connectivity has become an essential part of day-to-day life with many seeing it is an essential utility and given its many uses, it is easy to understand why this has become the case. Widespread availability of ultrafast fibre broadband connections that offer unlimited data will leave little for customers within urban and suburban areas to consider beyond which deal to take. For those in rural and remote locations, broadband availability and service quality can vary, so alternative methods of supply may become more appropriate.

In this article we will discuss the three technologies on offer from Freedomsat that allow us to provide complete coverage of the UK. With many locations benefitting from multiple options where methods of service delivery overlap, we will always recommend our Freedomsat Fibre broadband as a primary link, but even those with coverage may opt for a satellite or 4G broadband connection as a supplementary service. Continue reading to find out more.

Without question, fibre broadband is the best way to connect to the internet. Whether you are a home or business broadband user, fibre offers low latency and unlimited data internet access. Fibre allows for multiple users and devices to access the internet simultaneously with sufficient bandwidth to support a variety of real time and bandwidth intensive applications simultaneously. There are two variations of fibre at present, fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) and fibre to the property (FTTP). Though not so commonly available, FTTP offers the premium experience, with speeds over ten times faster than those achievable on an FTTC link and infrastructure is continuing to roll out to increase the availability across the country. BT has announced that it will be ceasing all analogue telephone lines by 2025 as part of a drive to transform the UKs telecommunications infrastructure into a modern digital network that will be able to keep up with this consumer demand.

But what if you are not located within a fibre broadband catchment area? In the UK this leaves consumers with the alternatives of 4G or satellite broadband, both of which now offering superfast broadband solutions. If you are within good 4G coverage, then we would always recommend it over satellite broadband, as it offers a comparatively lower latency connectivity and benefits from unlimited data services. Most consumers in the UK associate 4G with mobile phones or USB dongle devices, but 4G mobile broadband is now a fully-fledged home and business broadband solution with a central broadband router like those used with fibre delivery. For those that struggle with an indoor 4G signal or are in an area with generally low 4G signal we can assist with an outdoor 4G antenna which works to boost outdoor 4G signal and bring it inside to your router. As the name suggests with 4G mobile broadband you can take it anywhere in the UK, but you will need to ensure that there is suitable 4G signal for reliable connectivity.

For those who live in truly remote or rural locations that have been overlooked by BT and mobile operators, there is still a viable alternative. Satellite broadband internet provides a reliable superfast connection where others cannot. Satellite connectivity works in much the same way as WiFi but on a much grander scale, sending and receiving data by bouncing signals off a satellite that is in orbit around the Earth. Capable of speeds of up to 50Mbps down and 10Mbps up, satellite internet is a very capable solution for those with no access to 4G or fibre broadband, with only two things to take into consideration: data limits and latency.

Most consumers will have experienced data usage thresholds with the plans associated with their mobile phone contracts. Satellite broadband works in a similar way, with its customer being able to choose how much data to subscribe to. In contrast, not many consumers will be so familiar with the term latency. In short, it is the time it takes to send a request, plus the delay in receiving that response, something which also impacts 4G, but not to the same degree. The good news is that satellite technology has developed some clever mechanisms that help to mitigate the effect of latency, with only real time applications reminding users that it is present. An example of a real time application would be a video call and if used over a satellite connection, then users at both ends will notice a small delay when having a conversation.

As briefly mentioned at the beginning of this article, there are instances where consumers may have a need to operate 4G or satellite broadband alongside of fibre, though it is more common for business users to require this additional connection. Throughout lockdown we saw a surge in home users with fibre, 4G and satellite connections requesting an extra connection to support the additional broadband load of home working or schooling. 4G is particularly well suited to such a need as it can often be shipped over night and rarely requires a professional installation, potentially allowing for a second line of communication to be setup within 24hrs.

It is typically business customers who have the greatest need for additional connectivity, with most opting for a minimum of two internet connections to ensure that they can continue to work in the event of an outage. However, having two internet connections with the same provider or same technology often does not achieve business continuity in the event of an outage, as both internet connections will likely pass through the same local exchange. Both 4G and satellite offer the most resilience in the event of a local telecom outage, with 4G typically providing service wirelessly from a mast a distance from the customers property and usually via a different exchange. However, satellite really comes into its own when looking to add a redundant broadband connection, the internet backhaul provided via dedicated links to central national telecoms infrastructure with connectivity provided by several routes.

Freedomsat always strives to provide the best possible broadband connection to its customers and our expert sales team works with both existing and potential customers to ensure that is the case. So, no matter your location, connect with Freedomsat. To find out what solutions are available in your area or to sign up please complete the short form below and a member of our team will get in touch.