- The government is working to establish a potential £160
million scheme to fund next generation of satellite
communications development and boost UK’s leadership in
ever-growing global satellite market
- satellites will be key to offering connectivity in remote and
rural parts of UK, bridging the digital divide and levelling-up
our country while growing the economy
- Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites more resilient and harder to
disable and have ensured reliable connectivity for Ukraine in the
face of Russia’s illegal invasion
British innovators working to revolutionise 5G and broadband
coverage for every corner of the UK could be in line to secure up
to £160 million from a scheme to deliver the next generation of
high-tech satellites, Science and Technology Secretary announced today.
LEO satellites represent the next generation of space technology,
offering unparalleled resilience and resistance to disabling
attempts. Their vital importance was demonstrated during Russia’s
illegal invasion of Ukraine, when they ensured continuous and
reliable connectivity, even in the most challenging
circumstances. The Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit scheme
(CLEO) would build
on our country’s established and growing satellites industry by
providing UK researchers and businesses with critical 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
– all creating interconnected networks serving billions
worldwide. The proposed scheme would ensure UK businesses are
supported in developing the next generation of low Earth orbit
satellites, driving the UK’s thriving satellite industry towards
global leadership.
The development would mark the UK’s most significant ever
investment in satellite communications, unleashing our country’s
potential to become global giants of the satellite industry while
creating hundreds of highly skilled jobs to boost the Prime
Minister’s priority of growing our economy.
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 UK, while addressing a
major priority to improve Future Telecoms, as laid out in the
government’s Science and Technology Framework.
Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary, , said:
Tackling the digital divide is at the heart of empowering our
citizens wherever they live, and by investing in the vital
research and development that CLEO would
facilitate, we can level up our country while growing the economy
through high-quality jobs.
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 UK businesses to deliver the next generation
of satellites and positioning the UK as true space superpower.
To propel the UK’s capabilities and long-term ambitions in the
space sector, the government is exploring grant funding of up to
£100 million. The government is also exploring whether to support
this grant funding with an additional £60 million from the
European Space Agency’s (ESA) UK-backed Advanced Research
in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES)
programme, which supports UK industry in delivering commercial
satellite communications infrastructure. The scheme would
establish UK leadership in many critical areas for the next
generation of LEO satellite communication technologies such
as AI and
machine learning.
CLEO would
aim to deliver the R&D needed to support
the launch of hundreds of satellites into space, revolutionising
the UK’s communication infrastructure and closing connectivity
gaps.
Harshbir Sangha, Missions and Capabilities Delivery Director at
the UK Space Agency, said:
Today’s announcement is a vital step towards the delivery of a
key priority of the UK Space Agency – to maximise 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.
Our intent is to catalyse investment, build on existing
capabilities and meet the challenges associated with seizing a
significant share of a fast-moving global market, by leveraging
our growing national space programme and leading investments in
commercial ESA programmes such
as ARTES.
This announcement follows the reintroduction of the
government’s National Space
Council, as part of the UK’s mission to become a true space
superpower. Co-chaired by the Science and Defence Secretaries,
the Council is responsible for coordinating government policy on
space and ensuring that the UK is well-positioned to take
advantage of the opportunities presented by the space sector to
drive job creation and grow the economy, one of the Prime
Minister’s 5 key priorities.
Notes to editors
Launch of the scheme and commitment of funding will be subject to
standard government business case and other approvals. Should the
scheme progress, support for firms would be subject to a
successful application via competitive process, and fulfilment of
eligibility criteria (to be published).
Further
information can be found on the UK Space Agency website here.
