First UK phones to get satellite connectivity in signal blackspots announced
Virgin Media O2 to Offer Satellite Connectivity
Virgin Media O2 is expected to become the first mobile network operator to provide UK customers with seamless connectivity via satellite in areas without phone signal.
Following a joint venture with Elon Musk's satellite company Starlink to provide the service, O2 Satellite will be an optional service set to launch in the first half of 2026. The firm hasn't disclosed the cost, but it will be an additional monthly payment.
Enabled smartphones will automatically switch to satellite coverage in areas of the United Kingdom where no terrestrial signal is available, such as rural areas. However, those who sign up will not be able to make phone calls via satellite initially.
The service will only work with messaging, maps, and location applications. According to O2, Starlink's latest satellites do not yet support calls, but the next generation will. Calls made using WhatsApp, which uses data rather than phone signal, may work. O2 plans to trial the service before it is made available to the public.
Luke Pearce, an analyst at CCS Insight, said the satellites will effectively act like "phone masts in the sky."
"Connectivity is no longer optional in today's world," he said. "Whether it's emergency SOS in life-saving situations or keeping a software-defined vehicle online, people now expect constant access."
Over-the-air updates can be sent to improve their functionality, but you will need internet access to do so. Mr Pearce added:
"Satellite is the only technology that will truly close the coverage gap across mountains, oceans, and rural areas."
Satellite Battle Hots Up
O2's move comes several months after rival Vodafone carried out a successful live video call via satellite from a mountain in Wales where there was no other signal. This was described as a "first for the UK" in the industry, but Vodafone has yet to announce any plans to provide satellite-to-device services to consumers.
Vodafone's technology worked with the satellite company AST, which currently has six satellites in orbit and aims to have up to 60 by 2026. Starlink, meanwhile, has more than 6,500 satellites and has already introduced similar services with phone networks in other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Japan.
Ofcom amended its policies in September to enable satellite connectivity to smartphone devices in the United Kingdom. Currently, it is only possible to use this technology to text emergency services from newer iPhone and Android handsets.
However, astronomers have criticised the use of low-earth orbit satellites for mobile communications, claiming they pollute the night sky and make it more difficult to detect potential threats such as asteroids.
