What is BT Openworld, is it a new satellite service

Asks howardpiercy

A. BT Openworld is a new satellite service that will provide high-speed Internet connections to the home. It is targeted at the SoHo (small office home office) environment and will provide an always-on connection just like ADSL phone lines�- to remote areas.

Q. What is the advantage of having an Internet connection via satellite

A. It has one big advantage over broadband telephone lines in that it works in areas of the country that existing broadband and traditional phone and cable lines cannot reach. Currently, if you don't leave near a digital exchange you cannot have a high-speed Internet connection.

Q. I am sure I have heard of a similar system before

A. You may have heard of DirecPC from Hughes Electronics, it has been around since 1998 in the UK. It provides Internet services via satellite but with one big difference - the DirecPC system is one-way which means that you have to use you telephone at the same time as you use the satellite service - to call up your server, then the Internet connection is sent via satellite to the dish on your roof that is connected to your PC.

Significantly, the BT Openworld system is a two-way satellite service, which means that the satellite is used to receive and send Internet traffic.

Q. How does this actually work

A. You will have to have a new dish attached to your roof or wall - if it has a clear unobstructed view of the sky to the south (line of sight) you can use this service.

The dish sends requests to the Internet and receives Internet content via the satellite, which is in orbit approximately 36,000km above the equator. The satellite communicates with the BT satellite service hub facility, which has a connection to the Internet.

Inside your home or office, the dish is connected by two standard coaxial cables to the BT VSAT satellite system, which consists of a satellite modem. For anyone who wishes to connect 1 PC to the service, the satellite modem attaches to the PC through a USB or an Ethernet port. For businesses who want to connect up to 4 PC connections, the satellite modem connects to the LAN through the Ethernet port. No telephone connection, dial-up account or other Internet service providers are needed.

Q. How fast will my Internet connection be if I sign up for this service

A. It is estimated to be 10 times faster than traditional telephone connections - which in real terms means speeds can reach 512 kbps with targeted peak time speeds in excess of 150 kbps. Max upload speed will be 153bps.

Q. What type of PC would I need to have to run this system

A. To have a satellite modem connected to your PC and have the whole Openworld system up and running, your PC must meet the following specifications: Pentium processor (or equivalent), 128MB memory, 120MB available hard drive space, CD ROM drive, Ethernet or USB port, Operating system - Microsoft Windows 98 SE, Windows 2000, or Windows ME.

Q. Can I install the satellite and satellite modem myself

A. No, you will have to book an appointment and have an approved engineer install it (just like having a TV satellite dish installed), the only difference is that the dish is slightly bigger - it measures 0.6 x 0.9 metres.

Q. When will it launch in the UK

A. It is expected to launch in the UK in early 2002. However, if you live in Northern Ireland or the highlands of Scotland you can test the service from October. If you're interested in the service you can register for the test at www.btopenworld.com/satellite.

Q. How much will the service cost

A. BT has not released any prices yet; it will do so in October. The price will include one time connection fee, satellite dish and installation. Monthly subscriptions to the service will then follow, but there will be no additional phone charges.

Q. Will BT have a monopoly on two-way Internet services via satellite in the UK

A. Not for long. Sardinia-based Tiscali is expected to launch a similar two-way service at about the same time as BT, using the same Gilat hardware as BT too. BT will probably beat off some of this competition by being a well-known brand in the UK, but Tiscali is expected to launch in 14 additional European countries at the same time, so they won't be unknown for very long.

In addition, Hughes Electronics is expected to launch its new DirecWay two-way satellite service in early 2002 to take over from DirecPC and there are rumours that Rupert Murdoch, owner of BskyB and Sky Digital, wants to buy Hughes Electronics - which could mean future tie-ins with satellite television services in the UK.

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By Karen Anderson