Teams of firefighters responding to a major wildfire near Tintwistle in Derbyshire have made use of the O2 Satellite service to stay connected while working in an area with no traditional mobile coverage, enabling crews to stay contact with colleagues, share updates and access important information while working on the ground.
Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service (DFRS) serves a population of approximately 1,050,000 who live in an area that covers more than 1,000 square miles, which includes a variety of urban and rural communities.
The response area of work for DFRS includes ensuring the response of the service is matched to identified needs in local communities, such as large industrial premises, historic buildings or areas of high population, and making sure that an effective operational response is maintained at all times. DFRS has a total of 31 fire stations based in strategic areas to cover the risk of the local area.
The fire at Tintwistle has been declared a major incident and has been burning for almost two weeks. The remote location of the fire means conventional mobile networks are unable to reach crews at the scene, making satellite connectivity their only option.
To assist response operations, O2 has provided 100 satellite-ready phones to help its crews stay connected in the remote location. The devices have been used at the fire scene over several days, providing crews with a connection where no terrestrial mobile Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service signal is available.
Firefighters have used the service to stay in contact with colleagues, share updates and access important information while working on the ground. This is designed to provide greater peace of mind and has helped to keep crews safe during the response.
Launched in February 2026, O2 Satellite comprises a satellite-to-mobile service powered by Starlink Direct to Cell, and the move has boosted Virgin Media O2’s UK landmass coverage to 95%, delivering a coverage uplift equivalent to an area around two-thirds the size of Wales.
O2 Satellite connects compatible smartphones directly to satellites when they move beyond the reach of terrestrial mobile networks. The service allows 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 also complements the operator’s existing network by providing an additional layer of connectivity across remote parts of the UK.
Commenting on the deployment of the satellite technology, area manager Nathan Stevens at Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, who used O2 Satellite at the scene, stressed how wildfires often take crews into remote and challenging locations, where staying connected can be difficult.
“We are responding to a serious wildfire in an area with no traditional mobile signal, and O2 Satellite is providing an additional communications option during the incident. I have been using the phones at the scene and have found them useful,” he said.
“Having access to them is helping us share information as the situation develops and providing another way for firefighters and partner agencies to stay connected when needed. Our experience at Tintwistle has showed how satellite-enabled phones can provide vital connectivity for teams working on the ground.”
Virgin Media O2 chief technology officer Jeanie York added: “Firefighters responding to incidents like this work in incredibly difficult conditions, often in remote locations where conventional mobile coverage can be limited or unavailable. We’re proud that with O2 Satellite we are able to help crews stay connected during the response at Tintwistle.
“This is exactly what the service was created to do. The positive feedback from the brilliant firefighters using the service shows the genuine difference direct-to-device satellite technology can make in the real world.”
