Bigblu Broadband Launch Cheaper Satellite Plans for UK Homes

European and UK Satellite ISP Bigblu has refreshed their three primary broadband plans for residential customers, not least by adopting average download speeds (as measured at peak time), removing upfront equipment costs and lowering some monthly prices.

On top of the above the provider also claims to be offering “unlimited” usage on all their Eutelsat (Konnect) based Satellite packages, although the promo document seen by ISPreview.co.uk does contain a caveat: “No data caps or limits means we’ll never turn off your connection, even when you’ve reached your data allowance. After that you may notice a drop in speed during busy times but at other times you won’t notice any difference.”

Put another way, each plan still comes with a monthly “priority data allowance” but if you go over that then you’ll still be able to keep using the service, albeit most likely at a throttled speed during peak times (Satellite can become very slow a peak times due to limited capacity). In addition, in terms of that data allowance, there’s also an unmetered off peak usage period but it only runs from 1:00am to 6:00am.

The removal of up-front charges also has a caveat because you still have to pay for the hardware. Instead each package comes attached to a 12 month contract term and you pay an extra £2.50 (SB2) to £5 (SB2+) on top of the monthly rental to effectively rent the hardware and modem. Plus there’s still a £49.99 one-time activation and £49.99 installation cost to pay.

Konnect Bronze Unlimited
Average download speed 12Mbps
Average upload speed 3Mbps
10GB priority data allowance

Monthly Price: £24.99 per month (£27.49 with hardware rental) + £99.98 upfront

Konnect Silver Unlimited
Average download speed 21Mbps
Average upload speed 6Mbps
50GB priority data allowance

Monthly Price: £39.99 per month (£44.99 with hardware rental) + £99.98 upfront

Konnect Gold Unlimited
Average download speed 36Mbps
Average upload speed 6Mbps
100GB priority data allowance

Monthly Price: £69.99 per month (£74.99 with hardware rental) + £99.98 upfront

We should point out that the GOLD package was recently advertised alongside download speeds of up to 50Mbps, which gives you some idea of how the new average speeds have changed things. On this point we really have to credit Bigblu for being one of the very first Satellite ISPs to adopt the Advertising Standards Authority’s (ASA) new speed guidelines, albeit a little after the fact but most others have yet to even bother.

The question of whether or not many consumers will want to take a chance on Satellite, particularly given the dire latency times, is another matter entirely. But some rural areas may have no other option until the 10Mbps+ USO arrives, which is due to start at the end of 2019 but could then take up to 12 months to install once requested.

We should add that it is apparently possible to replace the £2.50 and £5 monthly hardware rental with an optional one-off payment of either £199.99 (SB2) or £419.99 (SB2+). Mind you we’re not quite sure what difference the + kit makes (it’s only used on Silver and Gold).