To what extent do underserved, remote areas in the UK present challenges for our industry? This was the high-level question in discussion at last month’s SCTE Spring Lectures event, ‘Setting the Scene’. Taking his seat on the first panel of the day, our Founder and CEO, Paul Broadhurst, joined other industry experts to compare viewpoints and concepts around the task of connecting remote communities. 

The all-day event in London took place at One Great George Street, delivering a packed schedule of deep dives into the opportunities and challenges that remote connectivity presents to the industry. Viewpoints were diverse, opinions varied, and heated debate was not uncommon throughout the event. Key themes from the day included: 

• Prohibitive expense. Many attendees argued that the cost of fiber-only plants in remote contexts is too high to run. 

• Inaccessibility. Besides cost, the viability of physical reach for presented intensely divided opinion.  

• The jury is out about wireless and satellite. Thoughts around using 5G as a last mile solution were mixed… 

CEO at B4RN, Tom Rigg, said, “We have been trying to find a partnership to adopt 5G technology that works alongside fiber.” He added that enabling 5G for customers through small cell installations (on the likes of churches or community buildings) was a good business model. Dominic O’Reirdan, Head of Network Operations at Jet Connectivity agreed that, “The right answer is fiber and 5G working together in the same network to reach rural areas.” 

The biggest obstacle according to delegates? Regulations and laws that hold the industry back from achieving this way of working. During the conversation, radio circuit technology was mentioned as a cost-effective alternative solution to stretching optic cable routes too far beyond capability and reasonable durability. However, Consulting Director of GreySky, James Saunby disagreed, stating, “I have been looking at using fixed wireless access on the end of fibers, it has been disappointing.” He went on to explain, “It doesn’t end up being that much cheaper than putting fiber in. There was always a certain percentage in shadow, and you can’t economically get that line of sight, that connectivity to them. It wasn’t as thorough as suggested.” 

Tom Keene from Corning also raised the question of looking at the ‘Direct to Satellite’ option, a potential technological gamechanger within the market: “There are many companies operating in this space. Starlink is getting in on the action – you don’t need any external VSAT antenna box, you should be able to connect directly from your phone to a satellite. Is this a credible solution?”  

Responding to Keene’s question was our own Paul Broadhurst, who was sceptical of satellite as a solution to the remote connectivity conundrum: That’s the difference between cellular and fiber. “When you have an XGS-PON OLT, it’s serving a definite number or group of houses – maybe 64. On a low orbit satellite, it’s limited to about a 20km circle off Starlink at the moment.” Indeed, true to his roots and the principles under which he founded Technetix three decades ago, Broadhurst concluded that premium service satellites, “Haven’t got the capacity. That’s the difference between cellular and fiber. It’s a fundamental law of physics with satellites that you’re never going to get over.” 

A fantastic day hosted by the SCTE, the Spring Lectures event was a strong opportunity for industry professionals and experts to network. Technetix was proud to sponsor the day’s formal lunch, and the team enjoyed the concluding drink and canapes at the end of the day. We look forward to the next event with SCTE and meeting our industry friends at the SCTE 80^th Annual Gala Dinner in June. 

Author – Isabella Hathaway, Marketing and Events Assistant

Isabella specializes in all things events, and is a key support in the planning and running of Technetix exhibitor stands at industry events. When she’s not traveling the globe for shows, Issy assists with the company’s myriad marketing communications.