Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to promote direct to device mobile connectivity from satellites.
Although this is a nascent field, government recognises the emerging potential of direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity, in particular in hard to reach or remote areas.
Ofcom has recently published a call for input on the potential supply of and demand for D2D.
To support the building of UK capability in D2D technologies, the UK Space Agency is supporting UK companies to apply for European Space Agency funding for D2D research & development. UK Research and Innovation’s £70m Future Telecoms Technology Missions Fund also includes a research mission on the integration of non-terrestrial and terrestrial communications networks, which is relevant to the development and deployment of these technologies.