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bigblu.ie. Satellite Broadband

  • 31-10-2019 1:43pm
    #1
    _Brian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,625 ✭✭✭✭


    So I’m scavenging for a broadband supplier yet again.

    We’re very rural and options are limited.

    Was with three mobile broadband for a while but it was patchy and poor customer service.
    Managed to get a direct copper connection to the exchange with Eircom but with a max speed of 1mb it was poor.

    Imagine can’t cover us as we are in a black spot.

    No Vodafone Coverage to speak of.

    Have been with Rural WiFi for last three years and with the router forced onto 3G we were getting ~5-10 mb downloads which was ok.

    However, recent “upgrades” on the three mast which rural wifi piggy back on has left us yet again with sketchy coverage, 7mb overnight but 1-2mb in the evenings.

    So some browsing brought me to https://bigblu.ie/

    I was looking at their silver package offering average 21mb speeds for 50gb and reduced afterwards. At €40 a month it’s cheaper than I’m paying at the moment.

    I’d never heard of them.

    Any feedback or opinions or recommendations for a better value satellite broadband service even.

    Thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    Ten Pin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,851 ✭✭✭Ten Pin


    If you haven't already checked eirs coverage, here's their map...
    https://www.eir.ie/ourmobilenetwork/

    Satellite is an absolute last resort.


  • #3
    Croftman
    Registered Users Posts: 25 ✭Croftman


    Hi

    I’m in exactly the same boat. Currently with Sky but 2mb is a joke so have given them notice to cancel. Imagine mast is full so as a very last resort we’ve to go satellite

    Have been looking at BigBlu & Rural WiFi. Spoke to the latter last week and they advised they use the BigBlu satellites so they’re basically the same company? Digiweb do it too but they’re expensive from what I can see online

    Have 2 weeks to get myself sorted so going to have to bite the bullet. There’s 14 days cooling off period so if not happy with what you’re getting they’ll come and take it out and refund your money so might try that unless there’s any other suggestions?

    And yes, I know the problems with satellite and it is a last resort but anything is better than 2mb through the landline. Have barely no mobile signal inside the house either so going down that route is out too


  • #4
    Ten Pin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,851 ✭✭✭Ten Pin


    If mobile signal is OK outside, there's the option of an aerial outide feeding a router inside.

    The simplest way to check coverage is a speed test upstairs with a SIM from each mobile network at a window facing each direction (North, South, East, West).

    Or else secure a phone in hotspot mode to a 20 foot pole and do a speed test from a separate phone at ground level.
    Have been looking at BigBlu & Rural WiFi. Spoke to the latter last week and they advised they use the BigBlu satellites so they’re basically the same company? Digiweb do it too but they’re expensive from what I can see online

    All satellite providers are probably renting bandwidth from the same satellite but they are each standalone companies.


  • #5
    beya2009
    Registered Users Posts: 678 ✭✭✭beya2009


    We have bigblu as we also live out in the country and we were with Eir before but due to very poor phone line...we were only getting about 1meg at best. Satellite broadband with bigblu is awful...it started off ok especially in the 14 day cooling off period (always the way lol) but since March of this year the connection has been extremely slow and inconsistent.

    I wish we could get a better non satellite option in the co wexford area.


  • #6
    The Cush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,679 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    beya2009 wrote: »
    We have bigblu as we also live out in the country and we were with Eir before but due to very poor phone line...we were only getting about 1meg at best. Satellite broadband with bigblu is awful...it started off ok especially in the 14 day cooling off period (always the way lol) but since March of this year the connection has been extremely slow and inconsistent.

    Dur to so may people across Europe working-from-home capacity on Eutelsat's KA-Sat satellite, which I assume is the satellite your dish is pointing at, is over-subscribed. RTÉ's Saorsat had to change it's broadcast parameters in July for this reason.

    A family member had to install sat broadband back in June due to WFH, BigBlu business package with 150Gb monthly priority data allowance. 25-35 Mbps down. Drops way below this if you go over the priority allowance, but she only uses it for work. She was told at the time they weren't doing any home broadband packages in Ireland due to the shortage of capacity.

    Eutelsat are due to make available additional capacity soon on a new satellite, Konnect, located at 7.2° East, to take pressure off KA-Sat at 9° East. I'm not sure if a dish pointing at 9° East will also "see" the other satellite 1.8° away at 7.2° East without realignment.
    October 29, 2020

    KONNECT satellite will enter into service in the next couple of weeks. Its entry into service will be gradual, 80% of capacity in service by year end, and all capacity in service by March 2021. The satellite will cover both Europe and Africa, about 55% for Europe, 45% for Africa.

    https://www.satellitetoday.com/business/2020/10/29/eutelsat-holds-steady-in-q1-results-prepares-for-broadband-growth/

    Also Big-blu, a KA-sat broadband reseller, was acquired by Eutelsat about a month ago.
    Eutelsat has now closed on its acquisition of Bigblu Broadband, which was announced with its Full Year 2019-20 results in July. Bigblu Broadband is the largest distributor of satellite broadband packages in Europe. In an interview with Via Satellite after the acquisition, Belmer said the Bigblu acquisition was strategically important because it provides a distribution arm to distribute and commercialize a broadband-to-consumer product across Europe.

    “Acquiring BigBlu came out as the best possible solution because they have a presence almost everywhere in Europe with quite capable networks of distribution in many different countries,” Belmer said. “And they’re also a very skilled and capable and competent workforce, with highly talented managers. In that kind of business, people make the difference and that’s one of the reasons why we finally decided on the point instead of developing those capabilities.”

    https://www.satellitetoday.com/business/2020/10/29/eutelsat-holds-steady-in-q1-results-prepares-for-broadband-growth/
    beya2009 wrote: »
    I wish we could get a better non satellite option in the co wexford area.

    NBI has started surveying in Wexford, hopefully you're in one of the listed townlands - https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=115098612#post115098612


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  • #7
    The Cush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,679 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    No longer taking on new customer according to this message on https://bigblu.ie/
    Now linking to the Konnect service due to launch imminently - https://register.konnect.com/konnect/satellite-broadband-ireland/
    IMPORTANT CHANGES AT BIGBLU

    The bigblu European business has been acquired by Eutelsat. We are no longer taking on new customers.

    Existing bigblu customers will continue to access their service as normal. All contact details remain the same.

    If you are interested in satellite broadband and want to be kept up to date about the launch of the new service, which will offer fibre-like speeds on a newly launched satellite, click here and you can be on of the first to know when the service is available in your area. 


  • #8
    The Cush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,679 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    Just a quick update on this, Eutelsat has sold its 51% stake in KA-Sat at 9° East to US satellite operator ViaSat for €140 million, following the successful entry into service of its new Konnect satellite at 7° East.

    https://www.lightreading.com/opticalip/viasat-seizes-control-of-destiny-in-europe/d/d-id/765591

    Viasat provided both the KA-Sat communications payload and subscriber terminals. Eutelsat uses Hughes Networks and Systems (HNS) Jupiter 2 system for its new Konnect satellite.

    Due to Covid and WFH capacity on KA-Sat will continue to be an issue unless users decide to migrate to the new Konnect satellite 2° to the east.

    bigblu, now part of Eutelsat, will continue to service existing KA-Sat customers during a transition period to Viasat/EBI.


  • #9
    mccard
    Registered Users Posts: 239 ✭✭mccard


    I spoke with Rural Wifi today and they said that they are currently making upgrades to the satellite service. They should have 100Mb/s broadband available soon for 70euro a month.

    https://ruralwifi.ie/broadband/ruralwifi-satellite/

    They are calling me back next week for a chat. Does anyone else have experience with these guys?


  • #10
    The Cush
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,679 ✭✭✭✭The Cush


    mccard wrote: »
    I spoke with Rural Wifi today and they said that they are currently making upgrades to the satellite service. They should have 100Mb/s broadband available soon for 70euro a month.

    https://ruralwifi.ie/broadband/ruralwifi-satellite/

    They are calling me back next week for a chat. Does anyone else have experience with these guys?

    Their current packages don't appear to be using the new Eutelsat Konnect satellite, Astra or Avanti maybe? The 100Mbps/€70 pm upgrade could be the new Konnect service.

    These are current Irish resellers of the new Konnect satellite broadband service, that I could find

    http://irishsat.ie/broadband/
    https://muntec.ie/broadband/

    They are reselling Eutelsat's new Konnect home broadband including free installation and equipment - https://www.eutelsat.com/en/news/press.html#/pressreleases/eutelsats-konnect-ramps-up-retail-distribution-of-new-capacity-brought-by-eutelsat-konnect-satellite-3052993

    Eutelsat are selling the service directly to subscribers in the UK, Germany and Spain.
    The have an Irish website where you can register your interest with an Irish phone no., 044 931 0800, but no other details - https://register.konnect.com/konnect/satellite-broadband-ireland/.


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