BT, the United Kingdom’s largest telecoms operator, is considering partnering with Elon Musk’s satellite venture, despite already having an agreement in place with local low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications firm OneWeb.
BT has begun discussions with SpaceX about using its growing LEO satellite constellation Starlink to provide connectivity to rural areas in the UK.
The discussions appear to be centered on supporting enterprise customers in remote locations, such as oil rigs and mining operations, where connectivity is typically difficult to provide using traditional terrestrial solutions. Starlink will be used to provide fixed wireless access services in these locations, as well as to improve mobile connectivity.
It is worth noting that BT is already a major partner of Starlink’s rival OneWeb, having signed an agreement with the UK-based satellite operator in 2021. Live trials combining the two companies’ technology have been taking place since early 2022, with the most recent update being a deployment on Lundy Island.
Starlink has been attempting to deliver satellite connectivity directly to consumers’ unmodified smartphones for the past year, eschewing the typical satellite terminal that serves as an intermediary between the satellite and the consumer. Given Starlink’s global coverage, every subscriber could theoretically stay connected wherever they had an unobstructed view of the sky.
BT recently confirmed that it was already testing Starlink technology at its R&D facility, Adastral Park.
It is still unclear why BT is exploring options with Starlink rather than through its partnership with OneWeb.
