The government said that this satellite fund would be complemented by a range of live 5G integration projects
The U.K government said it is aiming to boost broadband and 5G coverage in the country with a potential plan to launch a £160 million ($204 million) satellite fund.
In a release, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and UK Space Agency, said that the government is working to establish a potential £160 million framework to fund the next generation of satellite communications development.
The government said in a release that satellites will be key for the provision of connectivity in remote and rural parts of the U.K., and that Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites represent the next generation of space technology. It added that the Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit program (CLEO) would build on the country’s established and growing satellites industry by providing local researchers and businesses with support to drive the development of new constellations.
This would include supporting smarter satellites with better hardware, using AI to make data delivery faster and connecting satellites together for improved connection, the government added.
This package would be complemented by a range of live 5G integration projects such as the 5G testing facility at ESCAT in Harwell, Oxfordshire, aiming to establish networks in underserved and remote areas, bringing high-speed internet and connections to every single part of the country.
Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary, Michelle Donelan, said: “This proposed record investment is also potentially a huge opportunity to harness our reputation as a world leader in innovation and R&D investment, supporting leading U.K. businesses to deliver the next generation of satellites and positioning the U.K. as true space superpower.”
The government is exploring grant funding of up to £100 million, while it is also considering whether to support this grant funding with an additional £60 million from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) U.K.-backed Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) program. The government highlighted that the program would benefit the country in many critical areas for the next generation of LEO satellite communication technologies such as AI and machine learning.
“This announcement is a vital step towards the delivery of a key priority of the U.K. Space Agency – to maximize the potential of low Earth orbit and become a global leader in next generation satellite communications technologies by building our ability to service future high-volume constellations,” Harshbir Sangha, missions and capabilities delivery director at the U.K. Space Agency, said.
The government also explained that the launch of the scheme and commitment of funding will be subject to standard government business case and other approvals. Should the plan progress, support for firms would be subject to a successful application via a competitive process, it added.
