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SpaceX Starlink to Provide Next-Generation Wi-Fi to Carnival Cruises

If you are a part of the cruising community then you might have seen via Carnival Corporation that they have signed a new agreement with Starlink – The satellite technology leader.

Even if you’re not a part of the cruising community, you will likely have heard of Carnival Corporation. They are one of the world’s largest leisure travel companies, boasting a portfolio of world-class cruise lines.

This provision of next-generation Wi-Fi on Carnival cruise ships is all set to transform connectivity for both guests and crew, bringing the ships faster internet and greater capacity. 

This new and improved Wi-Fi connectivity will start aboard the Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA Cruises brands. 

Carnival is the world’s largest cruise company, so it makes sense that they are committed to providing their guests with fast internet. Their ongoing strategy is to provide their guests with the best Wi-Fi experience at sea by tripling bandwidth fleet-wide since 2019. 

Last week, the latest move in this connectivity strategy was signing an agreement with SpaceX’s Starlink to provide next-generation internet connectivity across its global fleet. 

Starlink utilises LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite technology, providing faster service, greater capacity and more reliable Wi-Fi on a global scale. 

Rollout of Starlink connectivity on board cruise ships has begun

December last year saw the beginning of the Starlink rollout across their Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA Cruise fleet of ships. 

They have plans to extend Starlink connectivity to more of their world-class cruise brands such as Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises (Australia and UK), Cunard, Holland America Line, Costa Cruises and Seabourn. 

Until recently, at-sea experiences of Wi-Fi aboard cruise ships were not very comparable to on-land connectivity. By signing with Starlink, Carnival are greatly improving their on-board connectivity for guests (and crew) by offering the best available Wi-Fi experience – Rivalling even on-land connectivity. 

In an age where the majority of people expect to be able to connect whilst on holiday, this is big news. How can guests share their holiday snaps with friends and family back home if they’ve got patchy Wi-Fi? 

Guests may also find that they would like to stream movies back in their cabin via Netflix or watch specific sports matches live – Buffering is not an option. 

Starlink to provide cruise guests and crew with home-level connectivity whilst at sea

CEO of Carnival Corporation, Josh Weinstein says:

“For many of our guests, it has become more and more important to maintain the type of connectivity at sea that they’ve become accustomed to at home, and of course to share the unforgettable experiences of their cruise with friends and family.

“We are in the business of delivering happiness, and Starlink makes it as easy as possible for our guests to share all their great moments and memories, giving them even more joy out of their cruise vacation.”

Not only does this new-generation Wi-Fi bring more joy to guests, but it will also enable Carnival brands to offer new guest services and features – All through added bandwidth.

And it’s not just the guests that will be seeing the benefits of Starlink connectivity on board. The increased bandwidth will also help at an operational level with things like onboard equipment monitoring as well as real-time communications between teams on ship and on the shore. 

Whatsmore, Carnival isn’t just about bringing joy to their guests at sea but their crew too. Guests aren’t the only ones that want to stay in touch with friends and family back home whilst they’re aboard the ship – Their crew members also want to do the same. Starlink’s innovative satellite technology will enable them to do just this. 

Starlink thrilled to bring high-speed broadband to remote waters

Vice President of Sales for SpaceX Starlink, Jonathan Hofeller says:

“High-speed, low-latency broadband internet is critical in our modern age, and we’re excited to provide Carnival Cruise Line and AIDA’s guests an internet experience that makes their travel even more enjoyable.

“In even the most remote waters, guests onboard Carnival Corporation ships will be able to share real-time updates with friends and family.”

Carnival already has a portfolio of world-class communications service and technology providers for their ships – Satellite and otherwise. Starlink are the latest provider to join this growing group of pioneering tech providers. 

Carnival remains the industry leader for their connectivity, fleet wide. Their global presence sees almost 100 ships visit over 700 ports worldwide. It’s little wonder they are innovative in their attitude to connectivity, using a multi-provider approach with a framework strategically designed to optimise their network speeds and route internet traffic aboard their fleet anywhere in the world. 

Our resident Wi-Fi expert and CEO Steve is a bit of an avid cruise goer. He’s excited to check out first hand how Starlink next-generation satellite Wi-Fi will enhance the guest experience aboard these cruise ships. 

To read more about this new-generation Wi-Fi aboard Carnival cruise ships, you can visit their website: www.carnivalcorp.com or  www.carnival.com.

We’re Experts in Starlink Installations

Of course, cruise ships aren’t the only industry that can benefit from Starlink satellite connectivity. There are plenty of places on land that could see an improvement in internet speeds by using Starlink technology. 

As experts in Starlink installation, do get in touch with us here at Geekabit if you think your rural business or outdoor event could benefit from satellite broadband. We’d be more than happy to chat through the options and see if Starlink satellite technology could transform your connectivity. 

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Myth Buster: WLAN’s and Radio Frequency

Have you ever wondered about certain myths about radio frequency that seem to pervade the WLAN world? Then this could be the blog for you. We certainly come across a lot of people who have a particular mindset when it comes to wireless networks and how they work. 

In this blog we’re going to take a look at some of the common beliefs people hold about radio frequency and dispel the myths. 

Do higher frequencies travel as far as lower frequencies? 

Yes. A common misconception is that higher frequencies don’t travel as far as lower frequencies, but this is not the case. Regardless of frequency, RF signals travel the same distance. The confusion comes from it seeming at a surface level that lower frequencies travel further.

But actually it’s due to attenuation. In space, a high frequency gamma ray with a frequency of approximately 1020 Hz (1 nanometer wavelength) can travel billions of miles, even lightyears, from neutron stars here to us on earth. Regardless of frequency, there is no attenuation of the radio wave so it travels an equal distance.

Here on earth, the distance RF goes (or is heard) is determined by how much is absorbed or attenuated. We need to take into account what the radio waves have to go through.

So when we’re thinking about longer wavelengths (lower frequency):
– There are less wavelengths to get through an object
– Less wavelengths are therefore absorbed
– The signal is less degraded

For these reasons, lower frequencies appear to go further.

Just to confuse things a bit further – Here’s an inconsistency with the above. In terms of 2-way radio, it’s a commonly known fact that UHF frequencies (450-470MHz) work better in an indoor environment than VHF (150MHz). But didn’t we just say that lower frequencies appear to travel further because less are absorbed? Yet here we are saying this type of higher frequency works better indoors.

In terms of size, the wavelength for VHF frequencies are about 6 feet and the wavelength of UHF frequencies are about 2 feet.

In an indoor environment, things like windows and doors are generally larger than the UHF wavelength and smaller than the VHF wavelength. This means that the attenuation for UHF is less.

What’s interesting is that if you increase the frequency, for example to 900MHz, the even shorter wavelength begins to have an increase in attenuation from things that are not windows and doors attenuating the signal more than the smaller frequency.

The UHF at 450MHz is the optimum frequency for an indoor environment.

For the tech geeks out there that are thinking – Hang on, what about UHF radios having higher gain antennas than VHF? Whilst that is indeed true, the dB gain difference isn’t enough to explain why the UHF does so much better indoors.

So let’s go back to where we started. It is a misconception to say that lower frequencies travel further than higher frequencies. However, it is true that higher frequencies (smaller wavelengths) are attenuated more than lower frequencies. It is also true that designing antenna systems that can receive higher frequencies at a greater distance is somewhat more challenging.

Does Free-Space Path Loss Increase with Frequency?


Not necessarily, despite common beliefs. If you are using a Free-Space Path Loss (or FSPL) calculator, it will assume that you are maintaining the same wavelength proportionally sized antenna as you lower the frequency. In other words, you are changing only the frequency so just one variable. You are not changing the antenna size.

When you lower the frequency, you aren’t seeing that the antenna is also getting bigger at the same time.

Decreasing the frequency whilst not increasing the size of the antenna would mean that the dB gain would decrease accordingly and the overall system gain would remain the same.

If you adjust both the frequency and the antenna size correctly then the FSPL stays the same.

However, there are scenarios where FSPL can increase with frequency. In the real world, buildings and other structures in free space will absorb more energy for higher frequencies as we’ve said above. Higher frequencies have smaller wavelengths and more attenuation. When buildings are in the path, path loss can increase with frequency.

Can increasing output power be a solution?


Many people think that increasing output power can never be a solution and that you must match your AP to client power.

Actually, an AP’s receiver us usually better than a client device. In addition to this, the MRC (maximal ratio combining) means that you should be able to allow for at least 3dB better radio receiver which can also mean 3dB more AP radio transmitter to balance things out.

Did you know that it’s actually okay to have asymmetrical MCS rates with downstream being higher than upstream? (the Modulation Coding Scheme helps us engineers to understand data rates and evaluate RF environments).

In a typical WLAN, users will be doing more downloading than uploading. Having a higher average MCS rate for users, they will be quicker to get on and off the wireless network, which increases the overall performance.

In most cases, it’s okay to have AP power at 15-17dBm.

In terms of Point-to-Point links, you could find that turning up the power is an easy way to boost performance. In addition, Mesh backhaul links between AP’s could benefit from higher power by increasing the average MCS rates between them. 

What is this not going to solve? Poor design and holes in coverage. You also need to bear in mind potential co-channel interference and being a good neighbour. We’re not saying turn up the power to crazy levels, but generally turning up the power by a few decibels could help your network. 

Does Wi-Fi 6E have more frequency space (1200MHz) than other unlicensed bands?

Let’s talk about the 60GHz band. One 802.11ad / 802.11ay channel has more RF bandwidth than combining all of the 900MHz, 2.4GHz, 5GHz, Wi-Fi 6E and 24GHz bands.

If you double the RF bandwidth will it double the throughput?

This is not always the case. You might find that the physical baseband layer (PHY) doubles but the actual throughput is less likely to do so. 

If you narrow the channel by half, then the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) increases by 3dB – Possibly even more if there are other sources of interference. An improvement of 3dB in SNR generally means an increase of 1 to 2 MCS rates.

It’s also true in reverse. If you double the RF bandwidth the SNR will be reduced by 3dB, generally reducing the MCS rate by 1 or 2. 

So, doubling the RF bandwidth doesn’t automatically mean you double the throughput but likely somewhere in-between. 

Throughput will only be doubled if full MCS rates are maintained either way and:

  • The link is strong
  • There is extra SNR beyond what is needed for the maximum MCS rate

Imagine an outdoor Point-to-Point scenario where the RF bandwidth was reduced from 40MHz down to 20MHz. By narrowing the RF bandwidth, the SNR increased and interference was reduced. The MCS rate increased which made up for the throughput that was lost from narrowing the RF bandwidth – In essence, increasing the throughput by reducing the RF bandwidth. Interesting!

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Ultrafast Broadband Satellites: SpaceX Launch Starlink v2 

You may have read our previous blogs on Starlink – the satellite broadband internet system from Elon Musk’s SpaceX. This low latency internet option is ideal for rural areas and consists of a constellation of small satellites in a low earth orbit, working with transceivers on the ground.

Last month, SpaceX launched its second generation of Starlink Block v2.0 satellites into Low Earth Orbit. 54 of these satellites have now joined the rest of the constellation, hopefully resulting in multiple improvements to the service, including:

  • Better capacity and faster broadband speeds
  • Better coverage
  • Improved network reliability
  • Delivery of mobile phone services from space

What do Starlink customers pay and what service do they get?

UK Starlink customers generally pay about £75 per month, plus the cost of the standard home kit at £460 (including the standard dish and router) in addition to a £40 shipping fee.

The standard Starlink package includes:

  • Unlimited usage
  • Fast latency times (25-50ms)
  • Download speeds of 50-200Mbps
  • Upload speeds of 5-15Mbps

With the latest number of subscribers currently at around 1 million – Double what it was just over 6 months ago) it looks like it’s becoming increasingly in demand. It is worth noting that the speeds quoted above may change as the network grows. 

What does the latest Starlink launch mean?

Starlink now has about 3,370 satellites in a Low Earth Orbit at an altitude of around 500km. The aim is to have 4,400 LEO satellites deployed by 2024. They also have approval to launch another 7,500 by the end of 2027. 

Interestingly, this latest Starlink launch looks like it includes an experimental batch of GEN2 satellites. These second generation satellites aren’t what tech experts were expecting to see as part of the launch, hence why they are being viewed as somewhat experimental. 

These trial satellites include some of the improvements wireless engineers were hoping to see from satellite broadband. 

Originally, the plan was for the second generation satellites to be launched on board their Starship rocket. These satellites would have seen the following enhancements:

  • Bigger – 7m long unfolded and 1,250kg
  • Lasers for inter-satellite links
  • Ability to use more spectrum bandwidth (e.g. the V band)
  • Reductions in brightness through dielectric film
  • Larger antenna
  • More power and support for connecting 4G and 5G smartphones from space (mobile broadband for voice and data) through twin solar array

However, unfortunately the Starship rocket still isn’t ready. As this would have been the only economically viable way to launch that version of second generation satellites, Starlink decided to adapt these Gen2’s so that they could launch with the Falcon9 rockets which is what we saw in December. 

These adapted GEN2’s are actually more similar in form to the first generation satellites. They are smaller than originally planned (just over 300m each) hence why they were able to launch earlier than waiting for the Starship rocket. 

Which features are being tested with this set of GEN 2 satellites? It’s not too clear, but likely to include enhancements related to Starlink’s acquisition of SWARm Technologies. Their tiny pico satellites were for connecting small IoT devices, utilised for agricultural sensors, buoys in the sea and smart energy metres. 

Whilst we may not be getting all the benefits that would be expected from GEN2 in this current form, SpaceX are preparing something intermediary in the form of a v2 mini which will weigh around 800kg and be 4.1m x 2.7m in size. Benefits such as improved bandwidth are likely to come along with this form. 

Why are we interested in the latest Starlink satellite launch?

Here at Geekabit we strive to offer the very best wireless broadband connectivity to our clients – Wherever they are based.

With this in mind, we will be starting to offer Starlink satellite internet for hire. This will be especially useful for those running temporary events like festivals, rural press launches, sports events and film crews.

All events depend on excellent communications and we are passionate about providing reliable internet access for some of the most prestigious events names in the UK. Keeping you connected is our passion.

For more information and to find the best solution to suit your internet needs, please get in touch with one of our event Wi-Fi experts – We’re here to get you connected. 

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Can My ISP Increase My Broadband Price Mid-Contract? 

Are you aware of your broadband contract clauses and how they could affect you? 

We all know that we should read the small print before signing on the dotted line – But how many of us actually do so? Especially when it comes to contracts from broadband and phone providers.

Perhaps with the current cost of living crisis, more people are being careful about what they are signing up for, and whether they should expect mid-contract increases in fees and exit costs. But what if you signed up before all the other household bills started to rise?

With households all over the country feeling the pinch, especially at this time of year, a mid-contract price increase is the last thing people need. But are broadband providers actually allowed to do this? 

Ofcom, the UK regulator of telecoms, has recently launched a programme in which they will monitor and examine whether any in-contract price rises from ISP and phone providers were laid out clearly enough in customer contracts – Before they signed up. 

Shouldn’t broadband packages stay the same throughout your contract?

Wouldn’t it be lovely if the price you signed up for remained the same throughout your broadband contract? 

We don’t think that’s too much to ask, but unfortunately there are many broadband, phone and mobile providers that will hike up the price of broadband part way through your contract. 

The rules laid out by Ofcom to try and combat this problem state that any potential for price increases must be set out in a prominent, clear and transparent way before a customer signs up. 

If an ISP fails to do this, then the customer stands a chance at exiting their contract without having to pay an additional fee. 

How could my ISP increase the price of my broadband?

The less dramatic price increases tend to come from providers like Sky Broadband and Virgin who implement standard price increases year on year. It’s pretty much expected by customers, despite consumers not knowing exactly what the new price will be. 

This kind of price increase also usually allows the customer to leave without having to pay a penalty fee. 

Other ISP’s like BT, EE and TalkTalk include a policy within their contract which enables them to increase their prices mid-contract in line with inflation and / or the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This could see an increase of 3-4%. Whilst this in itself can be quite transparent, the details are more often than not hidden amongst the small print that goes unread. On top of that, not all consumers have an in-depth understanding of inflation. 

Unfortunately, this means that when the inevitable price hike appears, customers are unable to exit their contract part way through without having to pay a penalty fee. 

Ofcom Investigates Broadband Price Hikes

Due to the number of complaints made between the 1st March 2021 and the 16th June 2022, Ofcom decided to investigate the apparent lack of transparency when it comes to in-contract price rises. 

MIllions of people are currently facing increases in their household bills. Now more than ever, it’s vital that ISP’s and telecoms companies make sure they are being very clear with their customers about pricing and exactly what they are signing up for. 

It’s the duty of these companies to lay out clearly and upfront any potential price increases within a customer’s contract. 

Due to the number of complaints regarding this matter, Ofcom began investigating whether this was happening, and if anything more needs to be done to make potential price rises more transparent to customers. 

Any providers found to not be following the rules regarding pricing transparency will be investigated individually. 

Good News About Mid-Contract Broadband Price Increases

Investigations of this nature do of course take time, however you’ll be pleased to know that CAP and BCAP (Committees of Advertising Practice – sister organisation to the Advertising Standards Authority) are developing new guidance in regards to mid-contract price increases. 

Their guidelines will include the potential for mid-contract price hikes to be more prominent within ads from broadband companies, mobile operators. By making it clear at this stage, there is less chance of consumers being misled. 

Since the 17th June 2022, there have been strengthened rules for telecoms companies that enforce clear and simple information for consumers in regards to in-contract price rises – Before the customer signs on the dotted line. 

In the current climate, it is absolutely imperative that customers know exactly what they are paying for their broadband, and how long they will be paying it. 

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Launch of UniFi Mobile Router

As regular installers of Ubiquiti kit since 2013, we’re excited to see the pending launch of their UniFI Mobile Router.

No signs yet that it is available in the UK, but as we work with Teltonika and Robustel 4G and 5G routers on a weekly basis, this has the potential to be a game changer in the market place for mobile connectivity Installers.

Enterprise clients will be looking to maintain the same manufacturer and one family of products wherever possible, and Ubiquiti will know this is a corner of the market they can easily win at.

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Boost Your Wi-Fi Speed This Christmas By Not Placing Your Router In This Room

You could be able to increase your internet speed over the Christmas period just by moving your router out of a particular room in your home. 

As schools and businesses slowly come to a close for the Christmas break, you might find your home internet buckling under the increased traffic. Children home from school, friends and family visiting – There could suddenly be many more devices all trying to connect to your Wi-Fi at the same time. 

So making sure your router is placed in the prime position could be vital in making sure Netflix streams don’t buffer, online games don’t freeze and video calls with relatives don’t stutter and fail. 

How Can You Make Sure You Get the Fastest Internet Speeds Possible Over Christmas?

Hands up if you’ve got some kind of new device on your Christmas list? Imagine Santa delivers that new games console, smartphone or smart home gadget – But your Wi-Fi speed and signal can’t handle it.

Have you ever counted how many devices you have in your home that are connected to the internet at any given time? The obvious ones are smartphones, laptops and tablets. But then there’s the TV, online gaming, smart home devices like heating and lighting controls. 

Then add in these new devices and it’s little wonder the Wi-Fi might start to struggle. 

Here are some of our Wi-Fi experts top tips to keep your Wi-Fi quick this Christmas:

  • Never keep your router in a cupboard. We know they’re not the prettiest things, especially if you have an eye for design, but hiding it away in a cupboard is going to affect the strength of the signal
  • Avoid placing your router behind the TV as this can block the signal
  • We know everyone is trying to be savvy with their electric use to keep bills as low as possible, but switching off your router at night isn’t a good idea as it will miss automatic updates (and it won’t save you much money either)
  • Schedule a time once per month to switch the router off and reboot. This can help to clear any issues and keep it working to its full potential
  • Use a tool or app to check what internet speed you are getting. If it doesn’t match what you’re paying for, then give your ISP a call.
  • Place your router in the upright position it’s designed to be in – Not on it’s side or upside down
  • If possible, try to position your router in the centre of your home. This will help to ensure that the signal reaches every room.
  • Try not to place your router near large objects, mirrors or fish tanks as these can all inhibit the signal
  • You might see a decrease in internet speed if you put up your Christmas tree directly over or in front of your router. The lights placed on the tree can, in some cases, negatively affect the signal from the router. You can read more about this here. 

What Room Should You Never Have Your Router In?

There is one room in the home that has the most potential for causing interference to your router signal and wreaking havoc on your Wi-Fi. And that is the kitchen. This is the worst place you could choose to place your router. 

Your router is consistently beaming out signal the whole time it’s on and connected to your ISP. The kitchen has the highest possibility of interrupting this signal due to the appliances kept and used in there. 

Electronics and metal can cause a lot of problems for your Wi-Fi connection. Appliances like washing machines, fridges and ovens are metal heavy and can block the signal from your router if it is placed too close by. 

Appliances and electronic devices that emit their own signal can also cause interference, like microwaves. If your router is placed near the microwave, you will likely notice a big slow down of Wi-Fi every time the microwave goes on. 

Kitchens are not a good environment for your router, even if your kitchen is in the centre of your home. You will get much better signal strength and speed if you place your router in a room away from large appliances and signal emitting devices. 

Stay Connected This Christmas

Christmas is a time for connection – In real life with those closest to you, and online with those that live further afield. Don’t let your router position and Wi-Fi strength be the reason you can’t connect with loved ones this Christmas. 

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What Can We Expect from Wi-Fi 8? 

Towards the end of November, there was an IEEE 802.11 conference in Thailand taking a look at what will eventually come to pass as what we will know as Wi-Fi 8. 

As with all things tech, things move at a quick pace as standards and technology advance. These meetings and conferences are important to discuss these advancements and how they affect and consolidate the next standard. 

They are a great opportunity for members of the IEEE to not only raise questions but be a part of technical proposals, as well as see what is coming up next in the world of Wi-Fi. 

New developments have the potential to affect things like certification and products, so it’s really useful to get insider knowledge. 

So what happened at this latest meeting and what will it mean for Wi-Fi 8?

You might be thinking, wait – Do we even have Wi-Fi 7 yet? The Wi-Fi 7 certification program is expected to be rolled out in 2023. But as always, there is always the next standard waiting in the wings! Things are advancing all the time and the next tech development is always on the horizon. 

Currently, we’re waiting for the 802.11be standards to be finalised. The latest IEEE meeting had a look at this with a view to getting some of the more intricate details all ironed out ready. 

The specifications for Wi-Fi 8 will likely be determined by the UHR (ultra high reliability) study group that studies various proposals. 

Will mainstream Wi-Fi use the 60 GHz spectrum in the future?

There will have been various technical presentations as a part of the IEEE meeting, with different contributors vying for different approaches to the next standard of Wi-Fi. 

An interesting potential consideration for Wi-Fi 8 was the use of the 60 GHz spectrum within mainstream Wi-Fi. WiGig, based within IEEE 802.11ad/ay, isn’t a popular choice within mainstream Wi-Fi when it comes to products. 

There are contributors that want to change this for the next gen standards, particularly in terms of integrating AR/XR/VR and the like on the 60 GHz band. 

Not everyone was pro this idea, with other contributors raising the fact that the 60 GHz band had been lacking in success. Instead, they want the UHR to study another area of the spectrum – sub-7 GHz – And look for Wi-Fi improvements there. 

Of course, these meetings are the prime place for these discussions, with a view to identifying the best course of action for the next generation of Wi-Fi standard, and where the most enhancements can be found.

The outcome of these discussions within the IEEE 802.11be meetings and the UHR studies will ultimately shape what we will come to know as Wi-Fi 8. Nothing has been finalised yet, but watch this space! 

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How Much Electricity Does my Router Use – Should I Turn It Off?

Let’s face it, the temperature has dropped and in the current climate we’re doing anything we can to reduce our household bills. Many people are currently scrutinising their household appliances in a bid to see what’s using the most electricity and how they can reduce it. 

The most obvious culprits are of course anything that has a heating element – Washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers being big electricity hungry appliances. 

Consumer electronics also account for quite a chunk of our energy bills – About 6%. Think how many people you have in your home, and in turn how many of them have electronics that are plugged in a lot of the time. Laptop, games consoles, televisions. The trick is to switch them off from standby when you’re not using them…

But what about household items that are on all the time – Like your router? Is the internet ever not in use in your home? With the prevalence of smart homes comes the need for constant Wi-Fi connection. Hands up if you control your Christmas lights with Google Home or Alexa? Guilty. 

If you switched your router off overnight, what disruption would it cause? And is it even worth doing so? Let’s find out. 

Should I Turn My Router Off Overnight to Save Electricity? 

If you’ve joined energy saving forums or even if you’re just prone to the odd Google or blog read about how to keep bills down, you might have seen suggestions to switch off your router overnight along with other electricals. 

But what disruption could this cause? 

It’s worth remembering that most homes use broadband connections that are based off older style copper broadband lines (for example ADSL2+) or a hybrid of fibre optic and copper (e.g. FTTC / VDSL). These often use DLM technology (Dynamic Line Management) and its associated services.

A potential issue with these services is its negative response to repeatedly getting disconnected and having to reboot the router. This could cause your connection to become slower, which in turn brings its own problems! For this reason, it’s generally better to keep them switched on all of the time to avoid connectivity issues.

There are also a few other things to consider before switching off your router on your way to bed. 

  • Many routers receive security updates overnight so as not to cause any issues during the day. If you switch your router off every single night, then you could miss one of these security updates which could cause issues later down the line with device vulnerability.
  • Desperate to stay up to date with the latest Sky series but can’t stay awake long enough to watch it in real time? Then you might be someone who series links your shows so you never have to miss a moment. Except – In order for Sky (other providers are available) to be able to record said show, the TV needs to be connected to the internet. And oops – You switched the router off before you went to bed. No show for you.
  • Do you charge your smartphone overnight? Most use this opportunity to update to the latest software. If you’re not connected to the Wi-Fi then it likely won’t make any necessary updates. Likewise, if your phone stays on overnight, any notifications like WhatsApp or social media platforms will connect via your data rather than Wi-Fi which could result in your using up your data sooner than expected. 

Are these massive issues that you couldn’t possibly cope with? No, probably not. But if you’re used to things just quietly and consistently running in the background – Updates, show recordings, notifications – You might need to consider whether switching off your router overnight would work for you. 

And would it even be worth it? 

How Much Electricity Does a Router Use and Is it Worth Switching It Off Overnight?

Unfortunately it’s not possible for us to sit here and say exactly how much electricity a router uses as there are so many on the market and they will all be slightly different in terms of how much power they use. 

We can speak in general terms though. So generally speaking, a router will use roughly in a range of 2 to 20 watts to run. The average router uses 6 watts. 

So how much is that actually costing us? According to .Gov the current average price per kWh here in the UK is 34 pence. If you are using the average router at 6 watts per hour, then you would be using 0.00204 pence of electricity per hour that it’s running. 

Over the course of a day, that’s about 5p (rounded up) for the router to be on. So 35p per week, £1.37 per month. That’s a total of £16.45 for the year! 

So if you switched off your router overnight, let’s say for 9 hours, that’s really not going to be a massive saving is it? Every little helps and all that – But you’d be saving about 12p per week in exchange for the possible disruption we mentioned earlier. 

Even if you have one of the more expensive routers to run at 20 watts per hour, you would still only be saving about £1.26 per week. 

And let’s not forget that some homes have special economy metres that enable householders to benefit from lower priced electricity overnight. In which case, the savings from switching off your router would be even less! 

Whether or not it’s worth switching off your router to save electricity is really a personal preference! 

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Connectivity Alliance – Telecoms Providers Join UK Landowners 

Last week on November 23rd, UK telecommunications providers, infrastructure providers and landowners joined together to form the NCA (National Connectivity Alliance). Why? Well. the main aim is to make collaboration easier on mutual areas of interest as well as aid the rollout of new networks. 

Let’s think about digital infrastructure for a moment – We’re talking about things like trenches for optical fibre cables and mobile masts. It’s easy to see why landowners and digital infrastructure developers might not be on the same wavelength (if you’ll pardon the pun). Previously, landowners would only allow operators to deploy infrastructure on their land in return for high rental fees. This would in turn have a knock on effect for consumers and telecommunications providers as operators would be unable to increase their coverage due to expensive rental fees. 

Back in 2017, the government amended the ECC (Electronic Communications Code) in order to make it more straightforward (and cheaper) for operators to access both public and private land. However, this didn’t have the balancing effect needed and lent instead more in favour of the providers – Some forcing rent of an extremely lower price. 

These lower rents didn’t take into account that landowners had multiple considerations to make like:

  • Facilitating access 
  • Ability to repurpose sites for other ventures (or inability to do so once infrastructure had been deployed)
  • Impact on insurance of any kit fitted to a roof
  • Safety risks for residents near base stations
  • Keeping an area used for deployment in good repair

You can see why this could easily end with disputes in court! Of course, the goal for everyone is to successfully roll out broadband and mobile networks, and the upcoming PSTI bill (Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure) plans to make the changes needed to do just this. 

It’s clear to see that something like the NCA is necessary to help increase collaboration between both landowners and digital infrastructure developers. 

The NCA Chair and Co-Founder is Partner at Blaser Mills Law. Carlos Pierce is thrilled to launch this cross-industry body that will benefit all parties – Including the general public. This new found collective of landowners and digital infrastructure developers will help improve digital connectivity for all. Industry experts bring about best practice, as well as helping landowners to have a deeper understanding of all things digital infrastructure. This combination of education and communication through this NCA collaboration brings an awareness of the needs of all parties in this sector, eventually benefitting the general public. 

The Minister for Digital Infrastructure, Julia Lopez MP, welcomes this new alliance in support of ‘world class connectivity’ for all people across the UK, regardless or whether they live in a city or rural area. Bringing together industry experts and landowners in this way will go a long way in helping negotiations so that all parties are happy. As a result, we can expect this new NCA to boost connectivity, productivity and even the economy. 

You can find out more about the NCA and what they’re about by visiting their website, or have a read of their latest press release here. 

Image from https://www.ncalliance.org.uk

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What If Wi-Fi Had Never Happened?

Isn’t it the most frustrating thing when you hit a Wi-Fi deadspot? No connection, nothing, no matter how many times you re-load the page. In this age of working from home and taking the internet with you wherever you go, it’s hard to imagine a time or place when you couldn’t quickly check your emails or have a scroll through Instagram. 

But did you know that Wi-Fi very nearly didn’t happen in the first place? Wi-Fi almost hit its very own deadspot – And wouldn’t that have changed our lives as we know it! Let’s get to the root of Wi-Fi and see how wireless internet came about.

When was Wi-Fi officially launched?

Just over 23 years ago, on the 25th September 1999, Wi-Fi was officially launched. If you think about the fuss that’s made over a new product launch from Apple, then you might have expected the launch of Wi-Fi itself to be a rather flashy affair. 

In reality, it was a bit Big Bang Theory-esque – A convention centre in Atlanta housing 8 technophiles ready to open their jackets to reveal polo shirts emblazoned with the made-up word Wi-Fi. And all in front of a crowd of just 60 people. 

Some of the biggest tech companies, and some smaller ones too, backed the launch enthusiastically. Even the likes of Apple, Dell and Nokia could never have imagined that they were backing such a huge global phenomenon with incredible economic, social and cultural impact across the world. 

It was the summer of ‘99

Think back to the summer of 1999, if you can. The working world was mostly using wired networks via Ethernet cable. LAN’s (Local Area Networks) connected desktop computers at a rate of 10 Mbps. 

Meanwhile, those trying to send emails from home did so to the sound of a modem trying to connect to another modem via repurposed telephone infrastructure. Dial up internet and 56 Kbps dial up modems clanked and clanged their way online. Arguments were had over who needed to use the computer and who needed to use the telephone. 

There were products for WLAN’s (Wireless Local Area Networks) but these were predominantly just for businesses. The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) official wireless standard specification for these wireless products was 802.11. Not only were these products expensive, they were also 5 times slower than their wired equivalent. 

Despite there being a specified wireless standard, this unfortunately didn’t mean that one standards compliant wireless product would be compatible with another. This was largely due to the fact that there were different ways of interpreting the specification. 

These weaknesses meant that some companies looked elsewhere and chose to support other rival technology alliances – Each with their own aim of becoming the actual standard. 

Wi-Fi’s rival – HomeRF

One of these rival specifications was developed by a consortium of other technology giants – Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel and Microsoft. Their WLAN ‘HomeRF’ was aimed at consumers (rather than businesses) and was backed by over 80 other companies. In comparison to the other standard, the HomeRF products were not only cheaper but could also communicate with each other. 

With a name like HomeRF (short for Home Radio Frequency) it arguably had a catchier name that IEEE 802.11. They didn’t just have their eyes on the consumer market – They also had big plans for expansion and higher speeds for the business market. 

Despite all of this, the second generation of the IEEE standard, 802.11b was heading steadily for its final approval at the end of September. By the end of the year, there were products due to ship from company 3Com (later acquired by HP along with Compaq). Their products were based on the newer, faster standard and set for release before 1999 ended. 

At the time, networking firm 3Com formed WECA (Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance) bringing together 5 strong advocates for IEEE. Their aim was to make sure that any products using the pending second generation standard would all be compatible with each other. 

Originally tipped to be named ‘FlankSpeed’, connectivity as we know it today was trademarked as Wi-Fi. There began the establishment of the rules by which wireless products could be deemed ‘Wi-Fi Certified.’

What if Wi-Fi had not won out against HomeRF?

Wi-Fi won the wireless standard race, but what if HomeRF had in fact taken the lead? There are ways that all might not have worked out as it has. 

If the second generation standard 802.11b had been delayed, then HomeRF may have been able to sneak ahead. It was only due to a compromise between WLAN industry pioneers (and foes) Lucent Technologies and Harris Semiconductor that meant there was no delay. 

What if FlankSpeed was only available at work?

So what if WECA had decided only to focus on business connectivity? That was a discussed possibility. ‘Go anywhere’ connectivity almost wasn’t on the table. And what if ‘FlankSpeed’ had been chosen over ‘Wi-Fi’? 

A big chunk of today’s workforce rely on being able to bring work home with them. And not just home – What about coffee shops, airports, on the daily commute sitting on the train? Nowadays we tend to take work with us wherever we go. 

Had we been using FlankSpeed at the office and HomeRF at home, this would have made things very difficult for anyone working from home. And you can forget about coffee-shop-working and catching up on emails waiting for a plane – It’s possible neither of these public access options would exist. Zones that were not home and the office would have been a no-go (or NoHO) for working online. 

And if you’re wondering about FlankSpeed and Smartphones – That would have been a no as well. The mobile world of online connectivity disappears into the mist, out of grasp. 

Would it have been beneficial to have more than just one wireless standard? 

The benefits of having a singular focus on just the one standard meant that there was more scope for innovation and cost reduction. 

Even if FlankSpeed or HomeRF had gone forth alongside Wi-Fi, it couldn’t have ever become as cheap to run or prevalent and globally penetrating as Wi-Fi. 

Having a universal standard means that retail stores, public spaces and anywhere where we would now expect to be able to connect, could roll it out uninhibited. Had this not been the case, the ability to stream video whilst sipping a coffee or connect to emails whilst sitting on the train may not be available. 

Thinking on a global level, those living in emerging market countries like Nigeria, rely on free Wi-Fi hotspots to be able to connect to the rest of the world. Remote islands like the Bahamas also rely on Wi-Fi to get support following adverse weather conditions like hurricanes. In this way, Wi-Fi provides critical connections all over the world.  

HomeRF folded in 2003 – So how did Wi-Fi succeed so quickly? 

As with all well-laid plans, it’s all in the preparation and timing. With the announcement of the name Wi-Fi and the promise of certified interoperability from WECA, companies investing in this new wireless standard had the assurance that their products would all work together. 

In 2000, 86% of Wi-Fi devices were used for business. Wireless connection in businesses was big business in itself, with chipmakers and PC companies quickly hopping off the fence to support and join Wi-Fi. This led tech giants Microsoft and Intel to jump ship from HomeRF to Wi-Fi. Wireless for business soared in popularity ahead of in the home, which gave Wi-Fi chip volume a boost. This in turn led to closing the cost gap between that and HomeRF, leading it to fold in 2003. 

Since then, over the past 2 decades the Wi-Fi Alliance and IEEE have worked together to represent, guide and oversee Wi-Fi and its subsequent standards. 

The IEEE committee continues to roll-out new standards, and the WI-Fi Alliance makes sure that certified products can communicate with each other. 

So the next time you hit a Wi-Fi deadspot, or find that the Wi-Fi is down in your favourite coffee shop – Stop and breathe. Count your blessings that you can take your work with you wherever you go (mostly) and that you can largely connect via Wi-Fi wherever you need it. 

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