UK government to create national satellite communications network
Key Points
- The UK has published its national Space Strategy, which includes a plan to create a national satellite communications architecture.
- Announced on 8 September, the strategy is backed by £7.8 billion in government funding until 2030.
- The government said it will take a single approach to buying and developing space technology itself, beginning with satellite communications.
- It aims to develop a single satellite communications system led by the MOD, which will also be used to bolster commercial telecoms services used by Britons at home and abroad.
The UK government has published its new Space Strategy, which includes a plan to design a national satellite communications network to boost security, defence, and commercial telecoms.
Announced on Tuesday 8 September, the UK Space Strategy is backed by £7.8 billion until 2030 and unifies the government’s space investment and activity under a single plan.
While it includes provision for investment in satellite infrastructure for defence and research, as well as the monitoring of orbital objects, the new strategy also encompasses the integration of these capabilities with terrestrial systems.
This will lead to benefits for everyday Brits, the government said, from better connectivity on trains to satellite internet fallbacks for 5G and 6G networks.
£2.8 billion of the funding will go towards strengthening connectivity, including the government’s Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit and SKYNET defence communications programmes, which ensure British Armed Forces remain connected wherever they are deployed.
The government said that for the first time, it will take a single approach to buying and developing space technology itself, beginning with satellite communications.
The new strategy recognises satellite communications as both critical for national security and a major growth opportunity, integrated into everything from military communications to enterprise broadband products.
The government plans to establish a single satellite communications architecture led by the Ministry of Defence, and will create an ecosystem that hosts multiple operators while encouraging efficient competition through open standards.
This integrated satellite communications architecture will encompass SKYNET, integrated allies’ infrastructure, and commercial services. The UK is also investing into new direct-to-device satellite mobile networks and user terminals that can roam across satellite services.
The strategy’s objectives state that by 2030, the UK will have a resilient, integration national satellite communications architecture coordinated by the MOD. By 2035, it is expected to have cutting-edge satellite communications services for government and military functions, as well as commercial satellite connectivity integrated with terrestrial telecoms.
“As space becomes a new frontier of economic and military competition, this plan will help keep Britain secure by strengthening our ability to launch satellites, detect threats and protect the services people rely on every day,” said Business, Innovation, Science, and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds.
“At the same time, this plan will enable our excellent UK industry to seize the boundless opportunities of this new age in space, creating skilled jobs, driving growth and improving connectivity for all of us.”
