A UK technology consortium, led by Excelerate Technology, has been awarded £6m in funding from the UK Space Agency, as part of its Connectivity in Low-Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme that will help position the UK at the forefront of the burgeoning satellite mega-constellation market.

The consortium has been tasked with developing a multi-orbit, multi-beam satellite antenna that will give users unprecedented flexibility, allowing them to quickly and easily choose from a wide range of operators in different satellite orbits depending on where they are geographically located at that point in time, giving them seamless, high-speed connectivity in even the most remote locations.

The small and flexible Mobility and Autonomy Market User Terminal (MAMUT) will be a clever and innovative product allowing users to choose the operator and orbit via an app, reducing costs and enhancing global configurability.   

Led by Excelerate Technology, the consortium will work on a three-year programme to bring MAMUT to market-readiness stage and includes space technology experts Satellite and Space Consulting Ltd, research institution Heriot Watt University, antenna designer Satraka Ltd and hardware and software specialists Jet Connectivity.

“This is perhaps the most exciting time ever to be involved in the global space sector, which is experiencing a period of rapid change and growth with significant new mega-constellations and thousands of new satellites being deployed in the coming years. This £6million UK Space Agency funding now enables us to focus on developing a fantastic new product that will help keep the UK at the forefront of the space connectivity industry while helping connect communities in the most hard-to-reach areas of the UK and beyond.”

Bethan Evans, Chief Operating Officer at Excelerate.

One of the first sectors to benefit from this new technology could be the emergency services sector, where ubiquitous connectivity for ambulance, police and fire & rescue organisations can have significant impacts on patient health, public safety and national resilience.

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