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Virgin Media O2 has unveiled a “historic” partnership with starlink Direct to Sale, designed to significantly expand rural mobile network coverage.
This pioneering agreement is the first to leverage Starlink’s position as the world’s largest satellite-to-mobile constellation.
A new service, O2 Satellite, will initially provide messaging and data services, with further applications planned for different handsets. Powered by Starlink satellite connectivityO2 Satellite aims to enable customers to use their devices in previously underserved rural areas.
Lutz Schuler, chief executive of Virgin Media O2, said: “This UK-first partnership is another example of Virgin Media O2 innovating to deliver a better experience and peace of mind for our customers, which builds on the £700 million investment we have already made in our mobile network this year.
“Starlink is a clear leader in the sector, operating the world’s most advanced satellite constellation, making it the perfect partner to complement our existing coverage and support Virgin Media O2’s ambition to deliver reliable mobile connectivity across the UK.”
Telecoms Minister Liz Lloyd said: “This partnership really demonstrates how private sector innovation can deliver real benefits for people across the UK, supporting our mission to drive growth and ensure no community is left behind.
“Whether you’re running a farm in Cumbria or hiking in the Cairngorms, you’ll soon have the peace of mind that comes with reliable coverage.”
This follows reports Elon Musk Now controls two-thirds of the satellites Into space after launching its 10,000th Starlink.
As of October 20, 8,562 of the 12,955 active satellites in low-Earth orbit – just over 66 percent – are part of spacexStarlink constellation of. Another 1,500 Starlink satellites are either defunct or no longer in orbit.
of spacex Dominance has raised concerns about the amount of power wielded by the world’s richest person through his control over the Starlink network. In 2023, Mr Musk claimed he had “more real-time global economic data than any single person” through his control of Tesla, SpaceX and X.
SpaceX’s closest rival when it comes to constellation size is currently OneWeb, which has 651 satellites in operation, although several Chinese efforts aim to have more than 10,000 satellites orbiting Earth by the 2030s.