BT and OneWeb Bring Connectivity to Remote UK Island

The United Kingdom’s Lundy Island. Photo copyright Roger Cornfoot, licensed for reuse Creative Commons

BT, OneWeb and the U.K. government have teamed up to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity to Lundy Island, North Devon in the United Kingdom. The partnership was announced July 21. The remote island is home to 28 permanent residents, as well as being a designated marine conservation zone and a site of special scientific interest with three endemic species and over 21,000 seabirds. The project is part of the U.K. government’s Alpha Trials program, aimed at bringing high-speed connectivity to very-hard-to-reach locations.

Connectivity is delivered through the installation of an Intellian dual parabolic terminal on the island. This small, outdoor satellite antenna system connects to OneWeb’s constellation of over 630 LEO satellites which enable high throughput and low latencies to even the most remote locations. This is connected to an indoor satellite modem to provide two-way data connectivity. The connection then travels from user terminal to satellite network portal via the LEO satellites, where it is backhauled across OneWeb’s wide area network to handover to one of BT’s points of presence in London.

“It’s brilliant to be bringing high-speed, low-latency connectivity to Lundy Island in partnership with OneWeb and DSIT. The installation will not only have a transformative impact on the island and its residents, but is also a significant milestone in demonstrating the value of satellite communications and the crucial role such solutions will play in enabling digital connectivity across the entirety of the U.K. and beyond,” Greg McCall, chief networks officer, BT Group, said in a statement.