The Product Marketing Manager for Hughes Europe, Max Gutberlet, said:

"There is another way. Terrestrial will continue to perform best in urban and suburban environments, and cellular also performs well in more rural areas. However, as elsewhere in Europe, satellite comes into its own in remote geographies where alternative technologies are technically or commercially unviable. And this is likely to remain the case for the foreseeable future.

In the UK, satellite is already available and is set to become cheaper in 2011 with the launch of Ka-band satellite broadband solutions. These have been developed, based and mainly funded within the UK, with proposed pricing in line with the Finnish model, ie around £25 to £35/m for a 2Mbps service.

Rather than spend money exclusively extending the duct and cable network, government could also encourage end-user pull by providing financial support for end-user equipment sales. This would be an alternative way to address the commercial development of broadband in outlying areas.

Providing users with a voucher to use any service they see as appropriate would enhance consumer choice. It would also provide a more even playing field for providers to compete in developing the best communications solution in each geography.

Critically, it would also provide a viable and more cost-effective answer to coverage in the short term. It would provide immediate benefit for the 250,000+ households and businesses that are currently unable to access high-speed broadband consistently. This would buy time for the expansion of copper and fibre-based solutions more broadly across the UK, while providing a service customers need and want now.

Terrestrial, wireless and satellite technologies are all developing fast, and each has a complementary role to play in meeting the global demand for universal access. As part of this, satellite is here to stay in extending coverage beyond that achievable by alternative technologies, and in filling in the gaps that they have left now."