BT Group and Starlink Team Up to Bridge the UK’s Digital Divide Through Space-Based Internet

BT Group and Starlink Team Up to Bridge the UK’s Digital Divide Through Space-Based Internet

(IN BRIEF) BT Group and Starlink have entered into a groundbreaking agreement to deliver high-speed, low-latency satellite broadband to rural and remote parts of the UK. The partnership will allow BT and EE customers to access download speeds of up to 280 Mbps through Starlink’s LEO satellite network, complementing BT Group’s ongoing nationwide fibre rollout. With service availability expected in the latter half of 2026, the collaboration underscores BT Group’s goal to eliminate digital exclusion and provide reliable, fast internet access to all communities. Both companies see this as a pivotal step toward bridging the UK’s connectivity gap, combining BT’s legacy in telecommunications with Starlink’s space-based innovation to ensure every home, business, and region can thrive in the digital era.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 6-Nov-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — BT Group and Starlink have announced a landmark partnership that will bring reliable, high-speed satellite broadband to homes and businesses across the UK’s most remote areas. The agreement—one of the first of its kind globally—will see BT Group integrate Starlink’s low-latency satellite technology into its existing broadband services, ensuring that even the most hard-to-reach communities can enjoy fast, dependable internet connectivity.

Set to launch in the second half of 2026, the service will enable BT and EE customers in rural and isolated regions to access ultrafast broadband with download speeds of up to 280 Mbps. This initiative complements BT Group’s extensive fibre and mobile networks, expanding coverage in places where conventional fixed-line infrastructure is difficult or uneconomical to deploy.

Allison Kirkby, Chief Executive of BT Group, described the partnership as a milestone moment for the UK’s digital future: “As we create a better BT for all of us, no one is doing more to connect the UK than we are. This landmark agreement with Starlink is a giant leap for rural connectivity – allowing us to get fast and reliable in-home connectivity to our customers in some of the UK’s most rural and isolated areas and to bridge the digital divide better than ever.”

For Starlink, this collaboration marks an important step in its mission to deliver global connectivity through its constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Chad Gibbs, Vice President of Business Operations at SpaceX, said: “We’re excited to team up with BT Group and bring high-speed internet to more people across the UK. Their local presence will help us reach those communities which have historically faced challenges with reliable connectivity. Starlink is committed to its mission to connect the unconnected while maintaining focus on delivering overall quality of service.”

The partnership builds on BT Group’s long-standing expertise in satellite communications, which includes nearly five decades of operations at its Madley Communications Centre—supporting broadcast, backhaul, and network resilience. The integration of Starlink’s advanced satellite system complements BT Group’s fibre rollout through Openreach, which recently passed 20 million premises and aims to reach 25 million by the end of next year and 30 million by 2030.

By combining its terrestrial and space-based network technologies, BT Group is reinforcing its position as a leader in national connectivity and ensuring that every corner of the UK benefits from modern digital infrastructure. Customers interested in the upcoming service can register at EE Satellite Broadband.

About Starlink

Starlink is the world’s most advanced satellite constellation in low-Earth orbit, delivering reliable broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls, and more. Starlink is engineered and operated by SpaceX. As the world’s leading provider of launch services, and the only provider with an orbital class reusable rocket – SpaceX has deep experience with both spacecraft and on-orbit operations.  Learn more at www.starlink.com and follow @Starlink on X

About BT Group
BT Group is the UK’s leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications and related secure digital products, solutions and services.

BT Group consists of four customer-facing units: Consumer serves individuals and families in the UK; Business covers companies and public services in the UK; International serves multinational organisations headquartered outside the UK and overseas public sector customers; Openreach is an independently governed, wholly owned subsidiary wholesaling fixed access infrastructure services to its customers – over 700 communications providers across the UK.

British Telecommunications plc is a wholly owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

For more information, visit www.bt.com/about

Media Contact:
https://www.bt.com/media-enquiries

SOURCE: British Telecommunications