The enterprise arm of operator O2 has launched O2 Satellite for Business to extend connectivity beyond the reach of its traditional mobile network.
In this act, O2 Business says it has become the first UK mobile network to offer direct-to-device satellite connectivity to business customers, helping companies and their staff stay connected in more places across the UK.
The move is a further extension of the O2 Satellite satellite-to-mobile service launched in February 2026, allowing users to connect via compatible smartphones by satellite when cellular coverage is completely unavailable, extending mobile connectivity into areas that have historically had no signal via traditional mobile coverage, the so-called “not-spots”.
The service is the result of a UK-first partnership with SpaceX, using Starlink’s low-Earth orbit satellites to deliver connectivity direct to mobile devices using O2’s licensed mobile spectrum transmitted from space. The switch-on also followed approval by UK regulator Ofcom of the UK’s first licence for satellite-to-smartphone services. It extended the operator’s landmass coverage from 89% to 95%, and brought mobile coverage to an area two-thirds the size of Wales for the first time.
The business service is intended for employees regularly working on the move or in harder-to-reach locations, from tradespeople travelling between jobs and rural businesses to field engineers, logistics and construction teams.
O2 Satellite for Business works automatically when customers move beyond O2’s traditional mobile coverage, connecting compatible smartphones via satellite without the need for additional satellite hardware or apps. Supported services include messaging, maps, weather and location sharing through apps including WhatsApp, Messenger, Google Maps, Apple Maps, BBC Weather and AllTrails.
Jo Bertram, CEO of O2 Business, stressed how companies are increasingly relying on always-on connectivity, but work doesn’t stop where mobile coverage ends: “That’s why we’re bringing direct-to-device satellite connectivity to our business customers – the first UK business mobile network to do so. O2 Satellite extends connectivity beyond the reach of traditional mobile networks, helping organisations stay connected in more places through the smartphones they already use every day. It’s another example of how we’re using technology to breathe simplicity into the way business works.”
The technology underpinning O2 Satellite for Business has already seen use in real-world applications. In July 2026, teams of firefighters responding to a major wildfire near Tintwistle in Derbyshire made use of the O2 Satellite service to stay connected while working in an area with no traditional mobile coverage, enabling crews to stay in contact with colleagues, share updates and access important information while working on the ground.
During the wildfire, O2 provided 100 satellite-enabled phones to Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service as crews tackled the blaze in an area with no traditional mobile coverage. The phones connected directly to satellites, helping teams on the ground stay in contact with colleagues, share updates and access important information across the affected area.
The service is available on compatible Apple, Google and Samsung smartphones. It is included at no extra cost with O2 Business Ultimate mobile plans.
