Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Space
  • /
  • New projects to boost UK benefits of satellite constellations

Space

New projects to boost UK benefits of satellite constellations

Two innovative projects are awarded a share of £16 million from the UK Space Agency today to position the UK at the forefront of the latest advancements in satellite communications.

Above: EnSilica chip.
Courtesy EnSilica

The funding will enable UK industry to capture a greater portion of the satellite mega-constellation market by developing technology that improves their efficiency and capability. It comes from the UK Space Agency’s Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme, which will invest up to £160 million in UK expertise in this area over the next four years.

Advertisement
Teledyne

Satellite constellations are enhancing global connectivity by providing high-speed internet access to remote and underserved areas, bridging the digital divide. These constellations are set to transform markets in maritime and aviation connectivity, changing how people communicate as they live and work in some of the remotest places on Earth.

Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: "The UK has all the cutting edge expertise and technology to spearhead the latest advancements in satellite communications and become a leader in this high-tech industry.

"These Government backed projects will not only provide significant advancements in mobile communication, but help to bridge the digital divide, connecting communities in the most hard-to-reach areas."

Companies benefitting from this round of funding include Oxfordshire’s EnSilica plc, which will receive £10 million to develop novel silicon chips and software for a user terminal. This will be compatible with UK and European constellations like OneWeb Next Generation.

In Cardiff, Excelerate Technology Ltd will receive £6 million to develop the small and flexible Mobility and Autonomy Market User Terminal (MAMUT) which will allow users to choose the operator and orbit via an app, reducing costs and enhancing global configurability.    

Advertisement
Teledyne

The UK has a growing space sector, with a rich heritage in satellite design and the operation of large constellations. This new government funding is crucial to maintaining the UK’s competitive edge during a period of rapid change and growth in the global space sector.  

In 2023, a new record was achieved with the successful launch of more than 2,900 satellites into space. The majority of these satellites are part of commercial constellations, which are expected to expand rapidly. A further 18,000 satellites are likely to be launched between 2021 and 2031, with mega-constellations comprising 75% of this total.  

This is a significant opportunity for UK industry to secure high-value contracts within the global supply chain for satellite constellations and to assume a leading role in the long-term growth of the satellite communication sector.  

The UK is also a founding member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and hosts the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) in the Harwell Space Cluster. The C-LEO programme awards funding through two different routes. The projects announced today are grants awarded directly by the UK Space Agency, with further contracts from ESA set to follow in the coming months.  

The announcement was made ahead of the UK Space Agency’s Ignite Space Conference, to be held this week at the National Space Centre in Leicester. This event highlights opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to connect with new customers, collaborators, and investors within the UK’s space industry and its supply chain.

Pulsar Fusion set to conduct UK

Space

Pulsar Fusion set to conduct UK's first fusion space test

10 July 2025

Bletchley-based company Pulsar Fusion is set to become the first British company to test fusion propulsion hardware in space, with the technology having the potential to halve journey times to Mars and beyond.

ALL.SPACE unveils Hydra MAX

Defence Space

ALL.SPACE unveils Hydra MAX

10 July 2025

ALL.SPACE has revealed a major advancement in mobile satellite communications with the successful demonstration of Hydra MAX - the first network independent terminal of its kind to deliver ultra wideband communications to multiple satellites simultaneously.

Neo Space acquires UP42 from Airbus Defence and Space

Space

Neo Space acquires UP42 from Airbus Defence and Space

10 July 2025

Saudi Arabia's Neo Space Group (NSG) announced today that the company has completed its previously announced acquisition of UP42 GmbH, the Earth Observation (EO) platform previously owned by Airbus Defence and Space.

GKN Aerospace and ArianeGroup sign new Ariane 6 contract

Space

GKN Aerospace and ArianeGroup sign new Ariane 6 contract

9 July 2025

GKN Aerospace and ArianeGroup have signed a new Frame Contract for the operational phase of Ariane 6, securing Europe’s access to space for years to come and building on a partnership spanning over five decades.

Advertisement
Teledyne
Orbex pre-selected for European Launcher Challenge

Space

Orbex pre-selected for European Launcher Challenge

8 July 2025

Orbex, the UK-based orbital launch services company, has been pre-selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to take part in its prestigious European Launcher Challenge (ELC).

UK achieves silver at the International Youth Rocketry Championships

Space Events

UK achieves silver at the International Youth Rocketry Championships

7 July 2025

A team of four students from Teignmouth Community School in Devon came second in the International Youth Rocketry Championships, narrowly missing pole position in a nail-biting final.

Advertisement
Gulfstream RT