The UK Government has launched a trial using non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellites to deliver high-speed broadband connectivity to more than a dozen “very hard to reach” locations, many in extreme locations such as mountainous areas or small islands, that are considered too difficult or prohibitively expensive to upgrade with full fibre connections.

Many remote and rural locations across the UK have historically struggled getting access to world class broadband quality due to challenges posed by their geography and economics. As part of the trial, selected sites will have satellite terminal equipment installed allowing connectivity to commercial NGSO networks, which offer broadband up to ten times faster than is currently available to them using legacy copper network technology.

Following the outcome of the trials, the Government will consider the viability of using NGSO satellite technology more widely to connect very hard to reach homes and businesses across the UK.

The initial satellite broadband trial sites include:

• Rievaulx Abbey, founded in 1132, in North Yorkshire Moors National Park: a remote 12^th century abbey, where improve connectivity at the site will help visitors and researchers engage with educational content relating to the ancient monument;
• Wasdale Head in the Lake District: a mountain rescue base in this area will be connected to explore how better broadband can improve operations in communication “blackspot” zones for mountain rescue team radio and global positioning services; and
• two sites in Snowdonia National Park: the base of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation to support their life-saving operations and Ty Cornel, an outdoor activity centre in Crafnant Valley managed by Scouts Cymru to help improve safety for wardens and the public traversing the isolated 25-acre site.

Other locations have been identified around the UK and discussions for further trial sites are ongoing, including small island locations in England, Scotland and Wales. As well as testing the technical capability of NGSO networks to serve hard to reach places, the trial will assess what benefits faster connections will bring to these remote premises.

These initial sites included in the trial will use equipment supplied by Starlink and use Starlink’s NGSO network connectivity, given the readiness and availability of its technology. As mentioned in our recent article, Starlink has recently been awarded further earth station (gateway) licences, allowing the NGSO network to provide further coverage in the UK including to very hard to reach locations.  DCMS says that it continues to discuss the capability of other solutions and services with suppliers, including the use of other providers such as Oneweb at more complex sites.

NGSO networks, being closer to Earth than geostationary satellites, now provide low-latency coverage across the globe, making web browsing and real-time collaboration much faster. The limited ground infrastructure required users to connect to these modern NGSO networks means that they can also quickly and cost-effectively provide additional resilience to critical networks in remote, sometimes dangerous, environments.

The Government says that recent tests have shown that in many locations these satellites can deliver speeds of up to 200 megabits per second, well above the speeds capable via copper cables commonly used in hard-to-reach areas today.

This announcement comes amidst the latest Project Gigabit delivery plan update including a contract in Cumbria covering up to 60,000 premises and an increase in the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme for homeowners and businesses to £4,500. The trial furthers the Government’s Digital Strategy focusing on securing nationwide digital infrastructure ensuring rural areas are not left behind, with an ambition to achieve 99% gigabit coverage by 2030.

To read the Government’s press release in full, click here.

We frequently advise clients on potential legal, regulatory and commercial issues arising at the forefront of technology in the communications sector, including satellite reseller arrangements, satellite broadband services and spectrum regulatory considerations. Get in touch if you’d like to have a further discussion about your satellite related project and we’d be delighted to assist.