Faster onboard WiFi on the way for UK flights and ferries
Key Points
- Ofcom has published proposals to make more spectrum available for satellite terminals on UK ships and aircraft, aiming to improve onboard WiFi for passengers and crew.
- Additional spectrum would be opened in the Ku and Ka bands for the uplink used by Earth Station in Motion (ESIM) terminals, with technical conditions to prevent interference.
- A separate consultation covers the 2 GHz Mobile Satellite Services band, proposing a three-to-five-year transition for existing licensees Viasat and EchoStar after their authorisations expire in May 2027.
- Ofcom is also proposing more flexibility for other operators to access the 2 GHz band during the transition and is seeking views on its longer-term use.
- Responses to the ESIM consultation close on 11 August 2026; responses to the 2 GHz MSS consultation close on 18 August 2026.
Passengers on UK planes and ships could get faster, more reliable WiFi under new proposals published by Ofcom on Tuesday (16 June).
The regulator is consulting on plans to free up more spectrum for satellite terminals fitted to ships and aircraft, the systems that keep crew and passengers connected while on the move.
Ofcom said it wants to make additional spectrum available in the Ku and Ka bands for the uplink used by Earth Station in Motion (ESIM) terminals, which are designed to deliver high-speed, continuous broadband to users who are travelling.
ESIM systems provide the always-on connections that allow people to get online mid-flight or out at sea.
Ofcom said opening up more spectrum would enable better connectivity for crew and passengers on ships and planes.
The proposals also set out a range of technical conditions intended to ensure ESIM users can share the band without interfering with other services.
Responses to the ESIM consultation must be submitted by 11 August 2026.
A move towards satellites
The plans form part of a wider package on satellite spectrum that Ofcom said builds on the additional spectrum access it has enabled in recent years.
In a separate consultation published the same day, the regulator set out its proposed approach to the 2 GHz Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) band, covering 1980-2010 MHz and 2170-2200 MHz. The current authorisations in this band expire in May 2027.
For the near term, Ofcom is proposing to let the existing licensees, Viasat and EchoStar, carry on using the spectrum for a transitional period of three to five years once those authorisations run out.
The regulator said this would allow services that rely on the band, such as the European Aviation Network, to continue beyond the 2027 expiry date.
Ofcom is also proposing to introduce greater flexibility so that other operators can access the same spectrum during the transition period.
It said this was intended to support optimal use of the band and open the door to further innovation.
Looking further ahead, the regulator is seeking feedback on its initial thinking for the longer-term use of the spectrum in the UK.
Ofcom pointed to a fast-moving commercial landscape, the potential benefits of aligning with other regions, and continuing uncertainty over how the band will be used in the EU.
