FAQ
Things you should know!
What does Speeds "Up to" actually mean?
Fast and Reliable
With satellite broadband from Europasat you will enjoy download speeds of up to 50Mbps, although this does vary depending on the plan and equipment that you choose.
What does ‘up to’ mean?
In common with all other broadband technologies, satellite broadband is a ‘contended’ service which means that your speed at any given time is determined by a number of factors.
These factors include general elements such as the internet’s general functioning and server speed of websites you’re trying to access at the time, through to the more specific factor of the number of other users you are sharing the network’s bandwidth with at a given moment.
The ‘up to’ speeds which are quoted by all providers across broadband technologies describe the maximum download speed in Megabits per second (Mbps) that you can expect to achieve with that service. Similarly, upload speeds are described as ‘up to’ and with satellite broadband these can be as high as 50Mbps although 35Mbps is the average.
What speeds you can expect?
This will vary according to the ‘busy - ness’ of the network at any given time and typically during peak hours of usage speeds may drop down into the low single figures for a time. Peak hours tend to be between 5pm – 11pm on weekdays, but this can vary from country to country.
The companies that manage the network infrastructure use sophisticated network management systems (you may hear referred to as ‘NMS’) in order to ensure that the bandwidth available on their network is shared out fairly amongst customers. The way that demand is managed based on a Fair Access Policy (FAP), and you can find more information on how these work for your system here.
A report by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission in 2014 found that satellite broadband on average achieved the closest speeds to the speeds advertised than any other technology in the market.
Satellite broadband speeds may not be the highest available and of course in common with fibre, ADSL or wireless they are not always at the ‘up to’ speeds, but in locations where it’s needed because of lack of alternative infrastructure, we’re confident you’ll find it an excellent solution.
What Equipment do I need?
Rent or Buy!
In order to access satellite broadband services you need to have a satellite broadband kit which is all self installable. Europasat can supply everything you need to get started in one simple delivery. Depending on your intended usage and where you want to site the kit there may be a couple of other bits and pieces you’d like to consider.
Antenna (or Dish)
This is usually mounted externally on your property, but can also be free-standing or mounted on flat roof if required.
Transceiver & Cable
The transceiver is attached to the antenna and the cable supplied is routed into the property to be linked to the satellite modem.
Satellite Modem
This is located in the property and devices such as desktops and laptops can be connected via a cable. You’ll just need to consider where you want to locate your modem and whether you’ll require more than the standard length of cable for the wiring run to the transceiver. Most customers will also wish to access the internet by wireless and we offer a range of suitable routers which will work seamlessly with the satellite system.
For the Gold and Silver Internet services, you would need the SB2+ modem (this is included in the standard kit) - the contract is for 1 year at a cost of 5 Euro / month on top of the data tariff.
For Bronze, you would need the SB2 Modem (this is included in the Bronze tariff kit) - the contract is for 1 year
at a cost VOIP (Optional extra)
In addition to the supplementary antenna mounting and router options, you may also want to take advantage of our telephone service using VOIP technology which is optimised specifically for the high latency around Satellite Broadband. To obtain this service, you would be provided with a VOIP phone which simply connects into a router using an Ethernet cable. This is beneficial for those in rural areas with a lack of telephone services or reception. This will also help slash phone call costs and minimise the amount of data used while making calls.
To see how it all fits together to provide you with high-speed broadband, view our video below.
*Self-installation is perfectly easy if you are handy with a drill and we supply installation videos to help you. However, if you would prefer a professional installation, please contact us and we will arrange for a local accredited Europasat installer to visit for our standard professional installation charge.
