"Acting on behalf of the Home Office's Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP), the UKSA invited participants to explore how existing and emerging technology (including satellites) could augment the ESN to provide coverage in remote areas and "locations which are challenging to service using standard transmission methods." Starlink is the satellite operator with the most developed direct-to-cell services, now selling these with T-Mobile in the US and Kyivstar in Ukraine, among others."
"This matters little at the moment, as the ESN project has been beset by numerous delays and delivery is expected no earlier than December 2029, a full decade later than was originally planned. BT Group, whose EE subsidiary is set to provide the actual telecoms for ESN, already has an agreement with Starlink to provide broadband services to UK customers, signed last year, making it a strong candidate for any satellite extension to ESN."
The UK Space Agency invited input on using low Earth orbit direct-to-device services to ensure emergency personnel stay connected nationwide. The call focused on augmenting the Emergency Services Network to cover remote areas and locations challenging to service using standard transmission methods. SpaceX's Starlink is the most developed direct-to-cell operator, currently offering text and location services with data and voice planned later. BT Group's EE subsidiary will provide ESN telecoms and already has a Starlink broadband agreement, positioning it as a likely partner for satellite extensions. ESN aims to replace the legacy Airwave TETRA system using EE's 4G/5G and smartphone endpoints, but deployment faces major delays with delivery expected no earlier than December 2029.
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