The government has announced £30 million for British companies developing satellite communications.
Space Minister Liz Lloyd made the announcement as the UK looks to secure a larger share of the £40 billion global market.
The money comes from the second round of the UK Space Agency’s Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme, which aims to help firms develop cutting-edge components and technologies for the satellite constellations.
The funding will help companies move their technologies from the testing phase to being ready for use in real missions, positioning them to win future contracts with major satellite network operators.
The programme will support next generation of advanced satellite capabilities and should deliver better services for governments and customers around the globe, enabling faster processing of information, lower latency and greater assurance for where UK data lands and is held.
Space Minister Liz Lloyd said: "Space is now the cornerstone of our modern economy. Satellite constellations have revolutionised how we operate, digitalising industries, optimising logistics and connecting all corners of the globe.
"This new funding will support the development of smarter satellites with better hardware, the use of AI to make data delivery faster and improved connections between spacecraft.
"This is part of the government’s commitment to keeping UK companies at the forefront of satellite communications, delivering economic growth and strengthening our defence and national security."
The first C-LEO funding call supported three projects with £18 million. Eight companies have created 26 specialist jobs in the UK so far, working to develop user terminals, active antennas and on-board regenerative processors.
Bethan Evans, Chief Operating Officer at Excelerate Technology, one of the companies that received funding from the first C-LEO call, said: "Support from the C-LEO programme has played a pivotal role in accelerating the MAMUT programme toward full market readiness. The funding has enabled us to enhance the scalability, resilience and commercial viability of our solution, ensuring it will meet the evolving needs of customers. Just as importantly, the collaborative framework of the programme has strengthened partnerships across the ecosystem, enabling shared expertise, integration opportunities and greater alignment with end-user requirements.
"As a result, we have accelerated product development, strengthened our market position and advanced our pathway to revenue growth and wider operational deployment."
