The UK Space Agency is to support 16 projects by companies developing satellite communications systems via a new £13m government investment.
The Agency says satellites are the backbone of modern life, powering the navigation apps, the weather forecasts and broadband connections.
Among the projects receiving support is CGI’s SODOR, which will trial satellite broadband on ScotRail’s West Highland Line, one of Scotland’s most scenic but remote routes.
The government says this project will bring reliable connectivity to passengers and commuters in areas where traditional mobile networks struggle to reach.
The trial will support the government’s wider work to introduce satellite connectivity on all mainland trains, improving availability and connection speeds for passengers across the country.
In agriculture, Farmer Charlie’s GAUFF project is developing affordable satellite-enabled sensors that will give farmers real-time data on their land and crops.
This will help deliver better harvests and reduce waste through smarter, more targeted farming, with the technology expected to be available by the end of next summer.
Other projects to receive backing include Exobotics Ltd’s STARS project, which will develop ultra-fast satellite communications technology. This will deliver the first satellites in a planned network designed to relay data between satellites and the ground much more quickly.
The 16 projects will be delivered as part of the European Space Agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunication Systems (ARTES) programme.
“This investment shows the true breadth of UK space innovation and how innovations in the UK’s satellite sector can improve lives, with better connectivity delivering internet access for more train journeys and smarter farming,” says space minister Liz Lloyd.
