Broadband services yet to reach the last mile, or 10 per cent of UK homes
Around ten per cent of the UK's housing stock still experiences a woefully inadequate broadband connection according to the CEO of a company that provides satellite broadband, despite government targets to boost connectivity and generous subsidies.
Aim-listed Satellite Solutions Worldwide provides superfast broadband to places, often rural, where typically no broadband exists.
CEO Andrew Walwyn describes his service as ‘last mile’ broadband.
He believes relatively few people have applied to a government scheme for subsidised satellite broadband which launched last year. Through the BDUK national scheme, householders can apply for free hardware and a free professional installation.
Satellite Solutions Worldwide has 75,000 customers in 31 countries and is targeting 100,000 by the end of 2017. As well as homes, it supplies broadcasters, construction sites and the military.
In the first half of 2016, gross profit was nearly £1.7m on revenue of £5.7m. The company hopes to crack new markets in New Zealand and India.