The agreement paves the way for Elon Musk’s venture into the British broadband market where it could compete with UK terrestrial internet providers such as BT Group Plc and traditional satellite companies such as Inmarsat Group Holdings Ltd. and OneWeb, and India telecommunications company Bharti Global.
Bloomberg
UPDATE ON JAN 10, 2021 06:52 PM IST
Elon Musk Starlink’s satellite broadband system has been licensed for its customers by the UK communications regulator, paving the way for the billionaire’s venture to enter another major market.
The permit was issued in November, an Ofcom spokesman said by email on Saturday. Greece, Germany, and Australia have also agreed to the new system, according to local reports.
Musk – now the richest man in the world – aims to deliver high-speed global internet coverage to connect users beyond the reach of existing broadband networks by sending thousands of satellites into low-earth orbit.
Starlink has already launched hundreds of satellites and started testing a beta service in North America. It is part of Space Exploration Technologies Corp., also known as SpaceX, which fires the satellites into space.
The agreement paves the way for Musk’s venture to enter the British broadband market where it could compete with UK terrestrial internet providers such as BT Group Plc and traditional satellite companies such as Inmarsat Group Holdings Ltd. ., as well as OneWeb – the low-earth orbit satellite. a system recently saved from a breach by the Indian government and telecommunications company Bharti Global.
Musk said in December that Starlink would be likely to be a candidate for an initial public offering once its revenue growth was “reasonably predictable. The UK’s license was reported earlier by the Sunday Telegraph.
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