Oxfordshire, UK – The UK government has announced a significant investment of £20 million from the UK Space Agency to advance telecommunications technologies and aerial connectivity projects. Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Chloe Smith, made the announcement at the European Space Agency’s new conference centre at the Harwell Space Cluster in Oxfordshire.
The funding, the largest of its kind to date, aims to support the development of innovative aerial services and technologies that can enhance connectivity in remote areas and aid emergency services in responding to natural disasters. Companies will have the opportunity to bid for the funding, with projects focusing on areas such as drones delivering medical supplies, dedicated connectivity for emergency services, and bringing internet access to rural regions.
Secretary Chloe Smith emphasized the wide-ranging benefits of aerial connectivity, including quick delivery of medicines to hospitals and improved mobile network access in remote areas. She also highlighted the contribution of the UK’s satellite communications industry, which already adds over £10 billion to the economy and supports more than 26,000 jobs.
Under the funding program, industry players can submit applications in three themes: Drones, High-Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS), and High-Altitude Long Endurance (HALE). Projects may involve developing hybrid aerial platforms capable of seamlessly switching between satellite and terrestrial networks, or traffic management systems for innovative vehicles like electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, also known as “flying taxis.
The funding is part of the European Space Agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Services (ARTES) program. Future telecommunications is one of the critical technologies identified by the UK government in the UK Science and Technology Framework, and the UK has been a leading investor in ARTES, committing £190 million to the program in November 2022.
The announcement coincided with the opening of the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications’ (ECSAT) new conference centre, named after former ESA director and head of ECSAT, Magali Vaissiere. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a hub for collaboration and networking within the UK space community, fostering partnerships within Europe and beyond. The UK Space Agency contributed £7 million towards the project.
Dr. Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, expressed enthusiasm for the new conference centre and reiterated the agency’s commitment to working closely with the European Space Agency to catalyze investment, deliver new missions, and champion space in the UK.
The conference centre, situated at the Harwell campus, plays a crucial role in supporting the flourishing UK space industry. By promoting collaboration between the health, quantum, energy, and space clusters on campus, the facility is expected to drive innovation across these sectors.
Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General, commended the UK’s track record of innovation in telecommunications and expressed pride in collaborating with UK partners to develop technologies that will enhance industries throughout the economy. He emphasized the transformative potential of space-enabled 5G connectivity in revolutionizing society and industry.
The funding announced today adds to the £50 million ARTES funding previously announced in January. These investments aim to support various projects, including the development of new satellite constellations, ground systems for accessing them, and end-to-end systems delivering new services to customers.
Chris McLaughlin, Secretary of the HAPS Alliance, welcomed the investment, highlighting the potential of high-altitude platform stations to enhance connectivity in remote areas and assist emergency services in natural disasters. McLaughlin also emphasized the commitment of the industry to future telecommunications and the collaborative partnerships driving advancements in aerial connectivity within the space community.
