Satellite phone services could play a part in Britain's troubled Emergency Services Network (ESN) project, including SpaceX's Starlink platform, to plug gaps in the coverage provided by terrestrial network tech.

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has invited interested parties for input on how so-called direct-to-device services delivered from satellites in low Earth orbit could ensure that emergency services personnel stay connected wherever they are in the country.

Acting on behalf of the Home Office's Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP), the UKSA invited participants to explore how existing and emerging technology (including satellites) could augment the ESN to provide coverage in remote areas and "locations which are challenging to service using standard transmission methods."

Starlink is the satellite operator with the most developed direct-to-cell services, now selling these with T-Mobile in the US and Kyivstar in Ukraine, among others. However, it is limited to sending text messages and location information, with data and voice capabilities planned for the future.

This matters little at the moment, as the ESN project has been beset by numerous delays and delivery is expected no earlier than December 2029, a full decade later than was originally planned.

BT Group, whose EE subsidiary is set to provide the actual telecoms for ESN, already has an agreement with Starlink to provide broadband services to UK customers, signed last year, making it a strong candidate for any satellite extension to ESN.

ESN is intended to supersede the aging Airwave system currently used by the Police, Fire and Rescue, and Ambulance services, which is based on legacy TETRA technology.

The replacement will use EE's commercial 4G and 5G infrastructure, with smartphones as the endpoint device, but with the ability to emulate push-to-talk radio as well as providing modern video and data services.

• Starlink to lower orbits of thousands of satellites over safety concerns
• Starlink satellite fails, polluting orbit with debris and falling toward Earth
• Starlink claims Chinese launch came within 200 meters of broadband satellite
• Ukraine first country in Europe to get Starlink satellite phone service

Last year, the UK government awarded IBM a contract worth more than a billion pounds to deliver the User Services for ESN, while EE's cellular network provides the underpinning physical infrastructure.

IBM replaced Motorola Solutions, which was awarded the original contract to develop ESN back in 2015, but the company then bought out Airwave Solutions, meaning it had ownership of the existing system as well.

Britain's competition regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), later found that Motorola was abusing its position to push up prices for Airwave services. A price cap was imposed, while the Home Office and Motorola agreed to terminate its contract to deliver the new ESN in January 2023.

Starlink is not the only satellite operator touting direct-to-device services that allow users telecoms access outside the reach of terrestrial cell towers. AST SpaceMobile plans similar capabilities and has signed up Vodafone Group as a partner in Europe, but services have yet to be announced. Eutelsat is also understood to be working on direct-to-device services via its OneWeb LEO satellites. ®