BT has tabled plans to work with Elon Musk’s Starlink to tackle rural areas with poor broadband connection, according to reports.
The telecoms giant, which owns EE, is reportedly testing Starlink satellite-connected equipment at its research centre Adastral Park, Ipswitch.
Alamy Live NewsSatellite technology is an increasingly viable remedy to connectivity issues in rural areas[/caption]
The aim is to tackle so-called rural not spots which are prevalent in rural areas throughout the UK, according to the Telegraph.
Musk’s company operates a network of roughly 5,300 satellites and has plans to add around 7,500 more by the end of 2027 – a feat that has troubled a number of scientists and astronomers.
Fed up villagers have already flocked to Musk’s satellite internet service because of sluggish speeds from traditional broadband providers.
As of the end of last year, some 42,000 UK customers had signed up to Starlink’s network, a big uptick from 13,000 in 2022, according to figures from Ofcom.
BT has been considering using the network for broadband services.
But bosses are also reportedly keen to harness the technology to improve mobile signals.
Starlink has been in the process of launching new Direct to Cell satellites with T-Mobile, that aims to give US mobile users “cell phone connectivity everywhere”.
Now it appears BT is looking to mirror the same partnership for UK broadband and mobile users, which would require support from Ofcom before it officially launched.
BT has previously signed deals with Starlink outside the UK, however, no formal agreement has yet been inked in Britain.
Satellite technology is an increasingly viable remedy to connectivity issues in rural areas.
BT is also conducting various UK government-backed rural broadband and mobile trials with Starlink’s British rival OneWeb.
However, a £400m government bailout during the pandemic has spelled concerns over OneWeb’s prospects with the BT partnership, which it agreed to in 2021.
Who is Elon Musk?
Here’s what you need to know…
Controversial billionaire Elon Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa in 1971.
As a 12-year-old child he taught himself computer programming and sold the code of a video game to a PC magazine for $500 (£300).
At 17, he moved to Canada to study, before gaining two degrees in physics and business at the University of Pennsylvania.
At the age of 24 he moved to California to start a Ph.D. in applied physics and material science at Stanford University – but left the programme after just two days to pursue other projects.
Now 50, he is the founder and CEO of SpaceX, co-founder, CEO and product architect of Tesla Motors, co-founder and chairman of SolarCity, co-chairman of Opan AI, co-founder of Zip2 and founder of X.com, which merged with PayPal.
He’s also working on a human brain chip project called Neuralink.
Musk’s stated aim is to reduce global warming and save humans from extinction by setting up a colony on Mars.
The billionaire inventor is also working on the world’s largest lithium-ion battery to store renewable energy.