ISP CentralPoint have announced details of what seems to be a cheap and perfect way for those who want broadband, but are suffering from unavailability from BTs ADSL rollout.

Using satellite communication for the downlink (ie from the ISP/Internet to you), CentralPoint are able to offer speeds to rival that of traditional ADSL based ISPs, ranging from a newly introduced 250Kbps costing just £18.50 per month, right up to a 2Mbps service costing £55.50 per month. The latter 2Mbps offering is a fantastically cheap way to get this form of download rate, with tradtional ISPs over ADSL costing from £5 or more per month extra. One exception is Bulldog Communication's Primtime service - but this is limited to 2Mbps outside of core office hours (Mon-Fri 8am to 6pm). CentralPoint's activation fee is charged at £15, irrespective of product chosen.

The service works off a satellite very close to that of the more familiar satellite TV provider Sky. Due to this close proximity, existing SkyDigital subscribers can take advantage of this broadband service, without the need to aquire a new (additional) satellite dish (although an LNB on the dish will possibly need to be replaced for opimimum service). For those without a satellite TV service, a dish pointing at the right direction can be easily achieved from various sources, including your local Satellite TV independant.

Hardware is available seperately from CentralPoint (although we should point out that its not mandatory that you purchase this on signup), and being prominently displayed on their website is the "TechniSat SkyStar 2 TV PVR", a PCI card that installs into your PC. The card is available from CentralPoint for £54.99, inclusive of VAT. Whilst the card provides the obvious hardware link between your satellite dish and your PC, the SkyStar also doubles as a satellite reciever, and utilizing the power within the PC, the card finally acts as Personal Video Recorded (PVR), letting you record satellite TV channels direct to your PC, leaving you to watch what you want to watch, when you want to watch it. PVRs have become more popular in the last few years in the UK, thanks to the success of the likes of TiVo and SkyPlus.

Great stuff - ready to sign up ? There is a caveat with the service though .. and unfortunatley, for some subscribers already tempted by the above, its a bit of a biggy.

Currently, despite the satellite technology used by service, the uplink (ie the method of sending data from you to the ISP/Internet) is performed via a telephone line, which for those still on traditional dialup internet services will know, is limited to around 56kbps max. This makes the service inadequate for those seeking a broadband service for online gaming, or for hosting websites and the like.

Despite this obvious falling, the service does appear to be excellent value for money for those with a demand for download rather than anything more than minimalistic upload. Add to this the ability to also receieve satellite TV channels on your PC as well as a PVR, and its not hard to see the benefit. A table is shown below detailing the ISPs product offerings (but remember, these are the download speed. Upload requires a traditional dialup ISP via a telephone line).