British companies developing satellite communications technology are to receive £30 million in government funding, Space Minister Liz Lloyd announced today, as the UK looks to secure a larger share of a global market worth £40 billion.
The investment, the second round of funding from the UK Space Agency’s Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme, will help UK firms develop cutting-edge components and technologies for the satellite constellations that are transforming how the world stays connected. These vast networks of satellites, orbiting hundreds of miles above the Earth, work together to deliver high-speed internet, communications and data services to every corner of the globe — from remote rural communities to ships at sea and aircraft in flight.
The government will back new projects to develop advanced technologies that are essential to the future of connectivity. With the global market currently worth around £40 billion and growing at over 10% annually (1), driven by demand for services such as navigation and positioning, broadband internet, weather forecasting, and maritime and aviation tracking, there is a significant opportunity for UK companies to capture a greater share. These technologies are also vital for defence and national security.
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 new £30 million investment 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.
Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO)
The first C-LEO funding call supported three projects with £18 million in funding. These projects involved eight UK companies and have created 26 specialist jobs in the UK so far. The projects have been running for a year and will continue for another two years, developing 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.’
Paul Morris, Vice President of RF & Comms Business Unit at EnSilica (another company that received funding from the first C-LEO call), said:
‘The C-LEO funding has been transformative for our development of chipsets for LEO user terminals, spanning analogue, digital and hybrid beamforming alongside a software-defined modem optimised for 5G NTN. This support has helped us win contracts with key customers who have validated our specifications, while also allowing us to grow our team and deepen our technical expertise. It’s a strong example of how targeted public funding can accelerate innovation and strengthen a commercial business case — and we’re grateful for the close collaboration with UK Space Agency throughout.’
UK Space Agency CEO Dr Paul Bate said:
‘UK companies are developing world-class satellite communications technologies, from advanced antennas to optical links that can transmit data between satellites at the speed of light.
Our first C-LEO funding round is delivering real results, and this second call will help even more businesses take their innovations from prototype to product, ready to be integrated into the constellations of tomorrow.’
The funding call opens on Wednesday 4 March and companies can apply via the UK Space Agency website.
UK sets sights on £40 billion satellite communications market with fresh investment
by u/_DoubleBubbler_ in DoubleBubbler
