BT confirmed that it has been in talks with Starlink, the satellite internet constellation arm of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, over a broadband and mobile service for hard-to-reach areas.
Following a weekend report from The Telegraph, a BT spokesperson told TelcoTitans BTwatch that the operator is “exploring how Starlink services could help improve our wider connectivity offering”.
They stated that BT has been looking into how low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites could help with “a range of connectivity improvements”, including: better coverage for hard-to-reach areas; offering additional network capacity; and building resilience.
Starlink’s equipment is being trialled alongside a “whole range of different kit”, at BT’s Suffolk R&D hub, Adastral Park. The spokesperson stated that the operator has not signed any deal with Starlink, with use of the equipment “very much in a test phase”. They also said no further details would be revealed “at this stage”.