Grant Mackintosh at Tolcarn Observatory. Photo: Avanti Communications

Avanti Communications is providing satellite broadband services to the Tolcarn Observatory, a Cornish astronomy observatory in the United Kingdom.This service will help expand the observatory’s research and educational work. The Tolcarn Observatory’s mission is to make astronomy accessible to all, through links with schools and the Tolcarn Astronomy Group, as well as research looking for new exoplanets.

Because of its remote location, the observatory was unable to connect to high speed broadband, and was instead relying on a mobile data connection. “It was becoming so restrictive that I had considered relocating the whole facility to Scotland,” explained Tolcarn Observatory Center Director Grant Mackintosh. Mackintosh can also use the satellite broadband connection to remotely control the facility’s telescopes housed in two domes and in the rolloff roof observatory. Schools can now have access to the facility and its experts via Skype and Mackintosh can easily share data from his research work searching for exoplanets with colleagues in North America.

“When we heard that the great work of the Tolcarn Observatory was being hindered by a lack of superfast broadband we immediately realised that our service was the perfect solution. It’s great to see our space-based service helping out fellow stargazers but the Avanti satellite solution is also ideal for any Cornish rural business which cannot currently get a fast connection,” said Avanti Communications European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Cornwall Superfast Satellites Project Coordinator Andy Williams.