Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the announcement on 24 September that they "will explore new options for a UK satellite navigation and timing capability programme to support the nation’s critical infrastructure", whether OneWeb can be used to provide such support.

The Space-Based Positioning Navigation and Timing Programme (SBPP) will explore new and alternative ways to deliver vital satellite navigation services to the United Kingdom which are critical for the functioning of transport systems, energy networks, mobile communications, national security and defence.

Government investment in OneWeb was for a cutting-edge telecommunications capability based on market analysis. We have been clear that PNT service wasn't the rationale for this particular investment, but of course we are open to considering how alternative technologies including Low Earth Orbit constellations may be able to contribute to PNT resilience in the future.