The UK Space Agency has announced £50 million of funding for
ambitious and innovative projects that will supercharge the UK’s
satellite communications industry.
Funding is available for a wide range of projects, such as
developing new satellite constellations, the ground systems
needed to access them, or whole end-to-end systems delivering new
services to customers.
These could include integrating 5G systems to unlock connectivity
for people and machines through upgrading infrastructure and
enabling drones or driverless haulage, creating space-based
networks to rival cable-based terrestrial ones, and helping UK
space operators to use disruptive new technologies and business
models to enable global operations.
The funding, which is part of the European Space Agency
(ESA) Advanced
Research in Telecommunications Services (ARTES)
programme, was announced as Science Minister visited space-focused data
analytics firm, Spire Global, and small satellite technology
company, AAC Clyde Space, in Glasgow today.
Science Minister said:
Developing UK space capabilities and maximising commercial
opportunities are key to the National Space Strategy, as part of
our plans to become a leading power in space and build on a
sector already worth £16.5 billion to the UK economy.
We are determined to invest in our world class satellite
technology sector, which is why I committed £1.8 billion for UK
participation in ESA
programs over the next five years and recently committed £190
million specifically to participate in international
telecommunications missions.
This latest £50 million UK Space Agency funding will help more
companies into our vibrant fast growth UK space telecoms sector,
helping drive both growth and wider UK economic resilience.
The UK already has a fast-growing satellite communications
industry, with services contributing £10.4 billion to the economy
and to the creation of more than 26,600 jobs.
Successful companies will have the opportunity to help kick off
the next generation of satellite communications hardware, paving
the way for services that can provide better quality connectivity
in remote and hard-to-reach places, higher bandwidth, lower
latency, and increased security.
UK Space Agency CEO Dr Paul Bate said:
This is an exciting time to be involved in the satellite
communications industry as the world increases its dependence on
these services to manage business, travel, security,
infrastructure, connectivity, and more.
This funding will help UK companies that have the right expertise
and ambition to become global players in this market and lead on
ground-breaking technologies that will enhance the wider UK space
sector, create jobs and generate further investment.
I look forward to seeing the results of the competition and
following the successful projects in their next steps.
The UK is a leading investor in ARTES,
having committed £190 million to the programme at the
ESA Council of
Ministers in November.
Previous UK projects funded by ARTES
include Sunrise, supporting the delivery of OneWeb’s first
generation platform and user terminals for a UK-wide supply
chain, and Pioneer, working with companies including Spire Global
and AAC Clydespace to develop infrastructure that will enable new
service providers with low cost and quick access to space.
See guidance to apply
for funding.
