Bigblu Broadband Launch 50Mbps Satellite Broadband for UK Homes

European Satellite ISP Bigblu has signed a new network capacity agreement with Eurobroadband Infrastructure (a Eutelsat subsidiary), which will enable them to launch a new “Konnect” branded package that offers faster download speeds of “up to” 50Mbps (6Mbps upload). But it’s not cheap.

Under the new commercial arrangement EBI will provide satellite network capacity, as well as assist bigblu with subscriber premises equipment, installation and marketing to support the Konnect brand. By the looks of it this deal currently involves securing more capacity from the existing KA-SAT (9° East) spacecraft, which was launched into orbit nearly a decade ago (here).

However the Konnect brand will also cover a new generation of all-electric broadband GEO Satellites (Eutelsat Konnect), the first of which will launch sometime next year and aims to share 75Gbps of capacity across a network of 65 spotbeams using the Ka-band (radio spectrum). In theory ultrafast speeds of 100Mbps with bigger usage allowances and lower prices could also be possible, but latency times will remain high.

Andrew Walwyn, CEO of Bigblu Broadband, said:

“We are delighted to be selected as preferred partner by EBI to offer a truly next generation satellite broadband offering in Europe, which is an amazing foundation for the growth of Bigblu.

The investment EBI is making in this new superfast 50 Mbps product is a gamechanger for BBB and our customers alike. I’m therefore very excited that this proposition addresses many of the challenges satellite broadband faces with a fantastic offering that will deliver a service superior to most people’s wired broadband at a similar price point for the user.

By working closely with our partners, we will be able to further demonstrate our industry leadership across Europe, underpinning our belief that we will deliver strong organic growth next year and beyond.”

A quick glance at bigblu’s website today reveals that the KA-SAT based 50Mbps package is already live and comes attached to a monthly usage allowance of 100GB (unmetered off peak usage also exists between 1:00am to 6:00am), but in order to get this you’ll have to pay a hefty £69.99 per month (plus £99.98 up-front for installation and activation).

On top of that bigblu has been a bit sneaky since they also add a £5.00 monthly charge for the modem/Wi-Fi router (£74.99 total), but this is only shown after you click to order the new package. A vague Fair Usage Policy (FUP) is mentioned too, but since they have a different one for each platform then it’s unclear which of those applies to the ‘Konnect’ brand (not listed).

One other issue is that bigblu are still advertising using “up to” speeds, even though the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) now effectively requires ISPs to promote “average speeds” as measured at peak times. So far not a single Satellite ISP has done this, which might be at least partly due to concerns over the heavy throttling that some of them employ.

However if you live in a remote rural area, where both mobile and fixed line broadband signals are dire, then the new service may at least provide a quick-fix until something better arrives.