Part of Satellite connectivity for the NHS
Use cases
Through working with NHS organisations on their connectivity requirements and running wireless innovation trials, the Networks and Connectivity team have observed a range of potential use cases for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity in the NHS. These are described below including examples of their live use.
Rapid back up and resilience to known sites
Using satellite connectivity to provide a backup solution that can be deployed in response to outages at sites of existing network connectivity.
Satellite connectivity is a short term backup option to provide resilience to sites which use fixed line connectivity as their primary connection. As satellite equipment is mobile it can be rapidly deployed to sites to provide the connectivity needed to keep the site functioning until the primary line has been restored.
NHS example
Bath, Somerset and Northeast Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (BSW ICB) trialled and implemented a single Starlink Satellite solution to create a 'GP-office-in-a-box' to provide their connectivity resilience across sites in Dorset.
This solution has been successfully deployed to a site when the primary connectivity was unavailable, allowing the GP practice to continue to operate throughout the outage.
Connectivity for temporary and pop-up sites
Satellite connectivity can be used in the short term for temporary sites, for example:
- disaster relief response
- pop-up vaccination sites
- as a bridging solution whilst waiting for fixed line connectivity to be delivered
Satellite connectivity can be ordered and live within 10 working days, while the average lead time from order placement to circuit delivery for a fixed line is 180 days. As such, satellite connectivity with a short-term contract can be rapidly procured and deployed to provide the connectivity required at these sites, and removed when fixed line connectivity is delivered, or when the site is no longer required.
NHS example
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust have trialled Starlink satellite connectivity to provide internet access to community hubs, enabling pop-up medical sites where traditional fixed line connectivity is not available.
Long-term connectivity for fixed site
Satellite connectivity can be used as a long term alternative to traditional fixed line broadband capability.
Whether as a primary or resilient connection, organisations are looking to use satellite connectivity as a long term or permanent connectivity solution for their fixed sites. This is generally for smaller sites, such as small GP surgeries where bandwidth requirements are not excessive, in remote or rural areas where the required new fixed line infrastructure is prohibitively expensive and sufficient mobile connectivity is not available.
NHS example
The Network and Connectivity team are working with the North of England Care System Support (NECS) as they complete a first-of-type procurement and deployment of satellite connectivity at NHS sites.
NECS plan to deploy satellite connectivity at GP sites across the north of England where fixed line and mobile connectivity options were either prohibitively expensive or not capable of meeting the sites' connectivity and resilience requirements.
Connectivity for vehicles
Satellite antennae can be mounted on a vehicle provide connectivity wherever the vehicle is in motion. Roaming satellite connectivity has the potential to address coverage gaps in mobile connectivity, but there are significant logistics and power considerations to be overcome. Feedback from wireless trials we have supported in the past has also raised concerns around the mounting of the equipment on staff vehicles.
Alternative solutions to improve mobile connectivity on the move, such as those tested by East of England Ambulance - Improving ambulance and A&E department connectivity - are likely to be much better suited to address requirements in the short to medium term. It is worth noting that when East of England Ambulance service trialled the solution it did not support Starlink connectivity. However, the system supplier has since enhanced their service to allow for Starlink connectivity alongside the connectivity types used in the trial.
NHS example
Both Manchester University Hospitals - Wi-Fi and satellite rapid deployment and University College London considered use of satellite connectivity for vehicles during their wireless trials but ultimately never deployed the capability in a live setting.
Last edited: 29 May 2026 2:57 pm