Satellite ISP Bentley Walker Launch UK Rural Broadband Survey

Satellite internet provider Bentley Walker has launched a new 2013 Rural Broadband Survey website in order to “investigate the gap in broadband internet performance around the UK“. But the survey appears to be limited in scope.

The survey’s website (www.ruralbroadbandsurvey.com) essentially combines a short questionnaire (e.g. What is your postcode? What speed does your ISP promise? etc.) about your current quality of service and ends with a speed test. It certainly wouldn’t be the first to do this and indeed many councils and other information sites have been doing something similar for years.

The presentation also makes it hard to shake the feeling that this is perhaps more of a self-promotional effort. However the ISP stressed to ISPreview.co.uk that this wasn’t the case, with the survey ideally become an annual event that helps to track the “real progress” (or lack thereof) of UK broadband upgrades. Some of the information gathered might also be put into an infographic at a later date.

Neil Denyer, Sales Manager for Bentley Walker, said:

“Traditionally, demand for internet via satellite has centred on remote parts of the world that lack a developed telecoms infrastructure. In the UK the demand for fast, reliable broadband is now developing faster than the infrastructure to support it outside of our towns and cities.

As a result we’re seeing increasing demand in the UK from customers who are no longer satisfied with slow connections. Being involved in the Rural Broadband Survey is a great way for us to better understand where the wired network is falling short.”

The survey is using a prize (possibility to win a free iPad) to help draw people in who wouldn’t usually do a speed test or respond to such studies.