British police services may start using Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network for emergency phone communications. This option is being considered as part of the support for the Emergency Services Network (ESN) project, which is set to replace the outdated emergency services radio system. Officials are exploring the possibility of integrating Starlink’s satellite signals into the ESN to ensure stable coverage across the country. The project entails combining the police, ambulance, and fire services into a unified digital network, which should operate on a mobile infrastructure.
The UK Space Agency has already invited interested companies to discuss the role of satellite communications in enhancing the ESN. The primary contractor of the system remains BT, the owner of the EE mobile network.
BT has already cooperated with Starlink in the field of home broadband internet, and EE previously conducted tests of Starlink satellite communication, although a commercial agreement has not yet been concluded. Initially, the ESN project was conceived as a more cost-effective alternative to the Airwave radio system, launched in 2000, and was supposed to be operational in 2017. However, authorities now acknowledge that a full launch may not be possible before 2029.
