The Space Leadership Council has set out the role that satellite operators can play in delivering broadband to remote communities in the UK and worldwide. It can provide benefits to British citizens with homes and businesses beyond the reach of terrestrial infra-structure, and enable UK to compete in fast-growing overseas markets for satellite-based broadband services.

This report was produced by the Satellite Broadband Steering Group that was set up following the Space Innovation and Growth Strategy published in 2010. This balanced report contains recommendations for both the UK's satellite industry and Government.

It sets out the scale of demand likely to be seen for satellite services in the UK and abroad, improvements in the quality of service needed from operators and the opportunity for local delivery decision makers to provide services early and affordably for citizens in the UK's most remote 'not spots.'

The steering group was independently chaired by Lowry Stanage, Deputy Chair of Digital Region, and comprised a senior team drawn from a variety of companies and organisations involved in delivering the UK's broadband infrastructure, including BT, TalkTalk, Avanti Communications, Astrium, Ofcom, Intellect, the UK Space Agency and the Department for Culture Media and Sport.

David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science and Space Leadership Council co-chair, said: "The UK's space telecommunications sector is essential to activities across many sectors of the UK economy. The launch of 'next generation' satellite broadband services by companies such as Avanti means we can now properly address the challenge of universal broadband access for our most remote communities."

Lowry Stanage, Chairman of the Satellite Broadband Steering Group said: "The companies in the Steering Group committed an enormous amount of time and effort into delivering this report and I thank the individuals and organisations that have come together in the spirit of delivering improved services for remote homes and businesses in the UK. Ultimately the market will decide how successful satellite services are in the UK and overseas but I am delighted to be able to offer the most comprehensive advice possible to David Willetts and the Space Leadership Council."

Andy Green, Chief Executive of Logica and Council co-chair, said: "The report paints an excellent picture of the role satellite can play in broadband delivery to the benefit of UK Citizens and the steps the industry can take to deliver the faster broadband speeds that the communities of the future will need. This delivers an important recommendation that was set out in the UK's Space Innovation and Growth Strategy. I commend Lowry's report to the Government and look forward to seeing the recommendations implemented."

The Satellite Broadband Report is the result of a six-month process, working with different areas of the broadband community and taking a range of views and expertise onboard. The Strategy was presented to the Space Leadership Council and takes forward one of the recommendations of the Space Innovation and Growth Strategy published in February 2010.

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