OneWeb and BT ink agreement to explore UK's rural connectivity

The newly made agreement between OneWeb and BT comes as an investment in expanding digital infrastructure that remains a top priority for the UK’s economic recovery and development post-covid, said the companies in a joint statement.

The company release said OneWeb’s network has the capability to serve hard to reach communities and their work with BT will focus on how satellite technology might support in improving capacity, mobile resilience, backhaul, and coverage, including Fixed Wireless Access, in challenging geographic locations, as BT explores new options to enhance rural connectivity.

As part of the discussions, the companies will consider opportunities to deliver OneWeb’s connectivity services from Low Earth Orbit to businesses and communities around the UK, as well as identifying collaboration opportunities to develop new services beyond UK’s shores for BT’s global customers, it said.

The London-based communication network provider said it continues to execute the deployment of its network in fast-track mode and is seeing increasing demand from customers said its officials who recently announced the distribution partner signings across multiple industries and territories above the 50th Parallel with communication companies including the AST Group, PDI, and ACS among others.

OneWeb’s Chief Executive Officer, Neil Masterson, said: “This partnership is a huge sign of progress in the resilience and advancement of the overall telecom infrastructure in the UK. OneWeb’s network will be a vital means for bridging the last digital divides across the network and we are excited to be part of the solution with BT to expand the nation’s digital infrastructure.”

Philip Jansen, Chief Executive, BT, said: “Our ambitious full fibre and mobile commitments have put BT at the forefront of efforts to expand digital connectivity across the UK. It’s clear that greater partnership is needed, both with Government and within industry, to ensure connectivity can reach every last corner of the country. Our agreement with OneWeb is an important step to understanding how that goal could be achieved in the future.”

Digital Infrastructure Minister, Matt Warman, added: “No one should miss out on the benefits of better broadband and mobile coverage. It's great that BT and OneWeb are working together to explore new ways to bring faster and more reliable connectivity to the hardest to reach homes. Alongside industry we have kicked off the biggest broadband build in British history and are spending a record £5.5 billion to end poor or patchy 4G coverage and deliver gigabit speeds in all corners of the UK.”