Despite significant investment in ICT infrastructure and services in the North East, there remain ‘Broadband gaps’ where businesses cannot access the internet through a conventional broadband connection.

In the past two years significant work has been undertaken to both identify and fill these gaps, but there are still many areas and businesses that cannot access broadband at all, let alone affordable broadband services. The rural/urban divide is widening almost on a daily basis as urban broadband take up, under Government initiatives, gathers momentum. It is important to maintain rural areas in this electronic race by the installation of satellite systems, which are now available and which operate independent of the local telephone network

The North East Regional Portal (TNERP) is the project manager for a gap filling project using satellite technologies. The Regional Portal is owned by Regional Development Agency One NorthEast and aims to support small businesses in the north east to help them get the best out of online solutions. Funding to support this project has been provided by One NorthEast

The project’s objectives are:

• To enhance existing business installations in gap areas with upgraded equipment.
• To deliver new satellite broadband installations to individual businesses on a lease basis in gap areas.
• To provide up to 80% funding and thus affordable services for the first year of connectivity for these businesses.
• To encourage businesses to cluster and share a satellite broadband node to increase efficiency and value for money by reducing individual cluster members’ costs.

What is the Project Offer?

Eligible businesses will be offered:

• Broadband connection using satellite or wireless technologies.
• Free equipment rental.
• Free standard installation.
• Free configuration of firewall and PC.
• Up to 80% funding for the Broadband service in the first year.
• Free ‘Introduction to Broadband’ training.
• Free helpdesk support throughout the 12 month contract.

How it works

The system consists of an 89cm Satellite Dish mounted on or near your premises.

The dish must have a clear view of the sky to the southeast at an elevation of between 20 to 30 degrees. Two coaxial cables are connected to a satellite modem located inside the premises. The satellite modem in-turn connects to your computer or firewall router via Ethernet cable.  Since the system is two-way, no phone line is required.

Two speeds are available:

• The Office 500 which supports 1 to 2 users Max Download Speed 512kbps/Upload 128kbps  (Typical speed 300/40kbps).
• The Office 1000 which supports 2 to 5 users Max Download Speed 1024kbps/Upload 128kbps (Typical speed 600/40kbps).

Download limits apply to both systems

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must be small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with less than £31.8m turnover and fewer than 250 employees, located in the North East of England.

The offer is only available to businesses in ‘Broadband gap’ areas that cannot get ADSL Broadband.

How to Apply

The first step is to complete an eligibility statement and pre-installation survey which can be obtained from the North East Regional Portal. 

Please send the completed survey that is signed and completed on both sides to the following address, along with a brief summary of how you think your business will benefit as a result of connecting to broadband.
 
Once we have reviewed your application, we will be in touch to let you know what happens next.

Send it to:

The North East Regional Portal,
Kielder House, Lakeside Court Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead
Tyne & Wear, NE11 0NL.

Or email sidsel.mckeith@n-e-life.co.uk

If your application is successful, you will be sent a contract pack which you will need to sign and return to The North East Regional Portal.

Relevant links

Satellite Broadband brochure

More broadband articles

Register for North East news