Will the ever increasing number of Satellites provide an answer to rural connectivity?

Surveys and analysis conducted in 2021 show that over 3.1 billion people globally remain ‘unconnected’ without any form of access to the internet, with the majority of these people living in developing economies. The desire and necessity for connectivity is continuing to increase year on year with over 332 million people joining the online community in the past year alone. The majority of these people will connect via cellular technologies globally, understandably due to the affordability and easy access of phones/ devices. However, so much of the planet and those without the ability to access the technology will not have cellular connectivity. How can improvements in satellite coverage and accessibility aid in providing this essential connectivity to more people?

Satellite services can provide internet/ broadband connectivity pretty much anywhere in the world- provided you have a clear line of sight between the dish at home and the satellite drifting in space, without the need for any phone lines or cables. This can be hugely attractive to those in rural areas where regular cellular connectivity is very rare, and terrestrial providers have been unable to provide a fast reliable connection to the house. However historically the ease of access, costs and possibly lack of knowledge has hindered many in adopting this type of solution. 

With an ever increasing number of providers addressing the global requirement for higher speed connectivity, the costs of hardware and airtime services are becoming more competitive and therefore attractive to the end user. 

Thanks to large global companies such as Spacex and Amazon recognising the potential and having a global mission for delivering complete internet coverage, using satellites to accomplish this could be achievable. SpaceX already have nearly 2,000 satellites orbiting the globe, working to provide high speed connections to those currently enrolled in their testing phase. With operators launching more satellites on a regular basis, the project of global connectivity might get less publicity than Musk’s grand plans for interplanetary travel, but could have a far greater positive impact to the people and lives that need it most. 

Closer to home, a survey completed in August by satellite provider Europasat revealed, on average, UK rural workers waste 16 minutes a day waiting for the internet. That’s nine days a year!

The issue of digital poverty was highlighted to the masses during the 2020 and 2021 lockdowns, as workers and school children were expected to be able to work from home on internet fast enough to run both Zoom and external programs. This expectation over looked all and sundry who simply couldn’t access reliable, robust internet. Maybe generations of the future could be connected remotely with a satellite broadband hub located within the community. 

Very few people would argue that daily aspects of our lives remain untouched by digital connectivity, whether its shopping or finding directions, and trends suggest that internet-powered technologies will only become more pervasive. Once again though, use cases vary considerably by locations and by demographic, so would providing those currently without this type of technology benefit their lives in multiple ways?

Again the past 2 years has definitely highlighted the need for society to ‘stay in touch’ with the help of internet connectivity. Many office workers have relied on Zoom, Teams and Skype to host team meetings, hold conference calls and stay connected to colleagues. Others have used social media and apps to contact friends and family, often in different countries, but for the billions of people without access to this type of technology it could enhance their lives not only socially but economically and for essential healthcare. 

Businesses can be provided with a platform to sell goods online not only to the local community but worldwide as well as buy components or equipment that could benefit employees and processes. Once online business owners could provide online training to staff that they may not have access to otherwise as well as increasing the talent pool to the global market. 

Finally we all know that broadband is not the single answer to so many of the issues facing rural communities. Finding a workable solution needs to be a joint effort across providers, networks and, most importantly, those who require a solution the most. So many Governments view the digital infrastructure as central to the future growth of economies, which requires them to enable the facilities so everyone can reap the benefits. The introduction of initiatives and funding for innovative ideas may aid in achieving the end goal, but it needs to be supported by reliable, physical solutions that can be reached by those still unconnected. Will this be achievable in 2022? Watch this space…………..