Mobile coverage in the UK is fairly decent overall, with most of the population being able to get some sort of a signal – even if not always 5G. But there are still areas where there’s no signal at all, and due to how remote these places are it could be tricky or expensive to service them. But Ofcom might have a solution, and it involves looking spacewards.
You see, thanks to cutting-edge direct-to-device technology, it’s now possible for satellites in space to beam a signal directly to standard smartphones – so you’d be able to get a satellite connection without a satellite phone.
With this, you’d be able to call, text, and even get online just like you can with a standard mobile signal, but because it would be powered by satellites, there wouldn’t need to be any infrastructure on the ground.
Signal everywhere
That in turn would mean the most remote of places should be able to get a signal – making 100% UK coverage a genuine possibility. And this satellite connectivity could also serve as a handy backup when there are outages.
While you can’t make use of satellites yet, the UK could soon become the first country in Europe that allows this, with Ofcom now proposing to allow mobile networks and satellite operators to use mobile airwaves to bring connectivity to mainstream phones.
David Willis, Ofcom’s Spectrum Group Director, said: “For years, we’ve seen satellite calls in disaster movies on special handsets. We’re now on the cusp of people being able to make them on their everyday smartphones.
“Ofcom always strives to be at the forefront of technological change, and we’re the first country in Europe to press ahead with the next frontier in mobile connectivity. This would unlock investment, open doors to innovation and growth, and bring much-needed mobile coverage to rural areas.”
Ofcom has several proposals for how to incorporate satellite connectivity into mobile networks, stating though that its “preferred approach is to amend the licences already held by mobile network operators and create an accompanying exemption for mobile handsets connecting to these services.”
Consultations on its proposals are now open, and will end on May 20th, and excitingly Ofcom claims that it could begin authorising these direct-to-device services later this year. So you might be able to start getting signals from space before Christmas.
