The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has teamed up with Hughes Europe, which provides broadband Satellite ISP solutions to various countries around the world, to demonstrate how space-based internet access services can also deliver "affordable" solutions to rural communities around the UK.

Both aim to hold a series of county shows in South West England, which will offer a live demo of Hughes's broadband satellite services. The two-workstation Internet café demo will even be solar-powered.


The CLA, which wants to "put the ‘e’ back in the rural economy", will showcase related services via stands at the following shows.

• Devon County Show, Exeter, 19-21 May 2011
• Royal Bath and Wells Show, Shepton Mallet, 1-4 June 2011
• Royal Cornwall Show, Wadebridge, 9-11 June 2011

Both Avanti and Eutelsat have recently launched their own range of 'up to' 10Mbps capable Ka-band based broadband satellites, HYLAS 1 and KA-SAT respectively. Both appear to have almost complete coverage of the UK and Europe and come with respectable service prices, although the one-off hardware and setup fees can reach up to around £600.