UK Space Strategy

October 2021

On 27 September, Her Majesty’s Government published its first ever National Space Strategy, designed to put the United Kingdom in the “front rank” of the global space industry.

Projecting the international space economy to grow from GBP270B in 2019 to GBP490B by 2030, the strategy outlined plans to “protect and defend UK interests in space; shape the space environment; and use space to help solve challenges at home and overseas”.

Space, as the strategy suggested, is already vital to UK security and resilience, particularly in the government sector where secure global communications, navigation and intelligence-gathering capabilities can ensure the successful conduct of military operations.

However, the National Space Strategy also demanded the UK keep pace with emerging threats from across the contemporary operating environment. These include developments in jamming, cyber attacks and anti-satellite missiles by potential adversaries which threaten our people, equipment and information networks.

In response, the government has pledged to exploit the commercial sector to increase security and resilience in space, particularly relating to earth observation; navigation; space domain awareness; and satellite broadband operations.

With this in mind, I was extremely proud to see OneWeb specifically mentioned several times throughout the National Space Strategy.

With more than 288 satellites already in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), OneWeb is well on its way to providing a sovereign capability for the UK and its international partners as we develop resilient space capability and services.

Describing how OneWeb’s LEO satellite constellation provides “global reach and global broadband connectivity”, the strategy noted:

“Investing in OneWeb contributes to the government’s commitment to making the UK a world leader in space and in science, research and development and supports the government's aspirations for UK leadership in space-enabled capabilities and services.

“We see key opportunities in markets that use data from space to build services and applications for earth observation, navigation, and space domain awareness. We will also further develop leadership in satellite broadband operations, building on our recent investment in OneWeb.”

OneWeb looks forward to supporting the National Space Strategy as we provide innovative, flexible and sovereign capability which complements MEO and GEO satellite constellations for increased resilience and assurance, anywhere in the World and at any time.