UK Space Agency announces new funding for connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme
Two innovative projects, one based in Oxfordshire and the other in Cardiff, are set to share £16m provided by the UK Space Agency in a bid to ensure that the UK captures a greater portion of the satellite ‘mega-constellation’ market. The money will be used to develop technology that improves efficiency and capability.

EnSilica chip, photo courtesy of UK Space Agency
Satellite constellations – that is, groups of different satellites that work together as a system – are already enhancing global connectivity by providing high-speed internet access to remote and underserved areas. In doing so, they help bridge the so-called digital divide.
In 2023, a new record of more than 2,900 satellites were successfully launched into space, the majority of them part of commercial constellations. It’s thought that a further 18,000 satellites will have been launched in the 10-year period up to 2031, 75% of them part of mega-constellations.
That will dramatically change how people communicate as they live and work in some of the remotest places on Earth, and will transform markets in maritime and aviation connectivity. That’s what the UK Space Agency wants to be part of. The new investment is part of its Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme, which will invest up to £160m in UK expertise in this area over the next four years.
Of the round of funding just announced, EnSilica plc – which is headquartered in Abingdon, Oxfordshire – will receive £10m to develop novel silicon chips and software for a user terminal compatible with UK and European constellations such as OneWeb Next Generation, IRIS 2 and other European constellations.
In Cardiff, Excelerate Technology Ltd is to receive £6m to develop the Mobility and Autonomy Market User Terminal (MAMUT), through which users will be able to choose the operator and orbit via an app, reducing costs and enhancing global configurability.
This week, the UK Space Agency is hosting its Ignite Space conference at the National Space Centre in Leicester, highlighting further opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to connect with new customers, collaborators and investors within the UK’s space industry and its supply chain.
Sir Chris Bryant MP, Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, says: ‘The UK has all the cutting-edge expertise and technology to spearhead the latest advancements in satellite communications and become a leader in this high-tech industry. These Government backed projects will not only provide significant advancements in mobile communication, but help to bridge the digital divide, connecting communities in the most hard-to-reach areas.’
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