OneWeb to Deliver Remote
Community Broadband in Trials for UK Government
Connectivity Programme
11 April 2023
OneWeb, the low Earth orbit
(LEO) satellite communications company, announced
today that it has been selected for two trials to
connect remote communities for the UK government’s
Very Hard to Reach Premises connectivity programme,
which aims to connect the UK’s most remote homes and
businesses
As part of the programme,
OneWeb’s high-speed, low latency LEO network will
deliver connectivity for trials through its partners
BT and Clarus. Trials will take place in the
Shetland Islands and on Lundy Island, near the north
Devon coast. These trials build on OneWeb’s strong
track-record of delivering community broadband to
sites in remote locations such as Canada, Greenland,
and soon to British territories in the South
Atlantic.
Michelle Donelan MP, Secretary
of State for Science, Innovation and Technology,
said: “Our Wireless Infrastructure Strategy sets out
our plan to ensure everyone, no matter where they
live, can reap the benefits of improved
connectivity. With the help of companies like
OneWeb, we are committing £8m to provide satellite
connectivity for our most remote communities so that
no one is left behind, while ensuring all populated
areas in the UK will be served by what I call
‘5G-plus’ technology by 2030.”
“This package of measures
turbocharges our progress towards becoming a science
and tech superpower with a substantial initial
investment in the future of telecoms.”
Neil Masterson, CEO OneWeb,
said: “We are excited to demonstrate the impact of
LEO connectivity through these trials. From the
beginning, OneWeb’s mission has been to bridge the
digital divide for communities, but there are still
countries around the world where reliable access to
connectivity is unattainable. Working with the
government, alongside our trusted partners and
customers, OneWeb can help to bring connectivity to
the communities and businesses that need it most, in
underserved regions in the UK and around the world.”
Having recently completed its
18th launch, OneWeb now has a constellation of 618
LEO satellites, enabling the roll-out of global
coverage later this year. This enhances OneWeb’s
existing connectivity solutions, which are already
live in regions north of 50-degrees latitude and
delivering connectivity to previously unconnected
and underconnected communities, businesses and local
governments.
OneWeb has 400 staff today
based in the UK, the majority of which are in STEM
roles, making a significant contribution to the
upskilling of the UK economy and building a new
industry in the UK.
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