Broadband Satellite Launches in 5,4,3,2...

The EC has set a target of giving every European citizen access to 30Mbps broadband or more by 2020, and now they are sending a satellite into space to help.

The Hylas spacecraft will be dedicated to delivering broadband services to remote locations such as rural villages where it is currently not possible to get a fast internet connection.

The satellite will be carried into orbit on an Ariane 5 rocket and is expected to lift off from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana at 1539 local time (1839 GMT).

Hylas (or the slightly catchier Highly Adaptable Satellite) is a commercial venture driven by start-up Avanti Communications of London.  The UK government put £40m into the Hylas development programme, in the hope that it will assist them in reaching their target of everyone in Britain having 2Mbps by 2015.

All being well, the 2.6-tonne spacecraft will operate in the Ka radio band and deliver broadband services to some 350,000 subscribers across Europe.

Faster Broadband Speeds in Europe

According to official EC figures, Broadband speeds in Europe have shot up in the last year.

For example, in July 2010, 29% of broadband lines in Europe ran at speeds of at least 10 Mbps, revealed Commission research.  By contrast in July 2009 only 15% of broadband lines were capable of hitting that speed.

The figures clearly show improvement, but the Commission has also warned that a lot of work needs to be done in order to meet Europe-wide targets on access and speed.

"Fast broadband is digital oxygen, essential for Europe's prosperity and well-being," said Neelie Kroes, commissioner for the digital agenda.

The EC has set a target of giving every European citizen access to a speed of 30Mbps or more by 2020.  Furthermore, they want to give half of all the 220 million households in the region access to 100mbps broadband.  Denmark and the Netherlands are streets ahead the rest of us in Europe with high-speed links already available to about 80% of households.