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Very Hard to Reach premises: alpha trial case studies

Updated 22 February 2024

Information about each of the Alpha Trial sites which are trialling LEO satellite broadband technology. The sites are listed in the order they were announced.

Rievaulx Abbey

• Location: North Yorkshire Moors, England
• Organisation: English Heritage
• Technology trialled: Starlink

Project overview

Rievaulx Abbey in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, is one of the most complete of England’s abbey ruins. The Starlink equipment installed here improves connectivity at the site and is expected to help visitors and researchers engage with educational content relating to the ancient monument. Watch the video here.

Ogwen Valley

• Location: Eryri National Park, Wales
• Organisation: Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation
• Technology trialled: Starlink

Project overview

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation is a voluntary mountain rescue team responding to incidents in the mountains and valleys surrounding the Ogwen Valley, Glyderau, and Carneddau mountain ranges and surrounding area in northern Snowdonia. This site was chosen as LEO satellite technology can help improve safety of the volunteers at the base as well as support their life-saving operations.

Cornel Scout Centre, Crafnant Valley

• Location: Eryri National Park, Wales
• Organisation: Scouts Cymru
• Technology trialled: Starlink

Project overview

The Cornel Scout Centre is managed by Scouts Cymru and is situated at the head of Llyn Crafnant, in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park. This site was chosen as LEO satellite technology can help improve safety for wardens and the public traversing the isolated 25 acre site as well as enabling new educational resources for visiting school, university or scout groups.

Wasdale Head Inn

• Location: Cumbria, England
• Organisation: Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team
• Technology trialled: Starlink

Project overview

Wasdale Head Mountain Rescue Team has been assisting people in the western fells of the Lake District and Scafell Pike for over 50 years. This site, utilising infrastructure at the Wasdale Head Inn, was chosen as LEO satellite technology can help improve the safety of the volunteers during their operations in a valley with particularly limited mobile and radio coverage.

Papa Stour

• Location: Shetland Islands, Scotland
• Organisation: Shetland Islands Council
• Technology trialled: Oneweb, using Kymeta Flat Panel

Project overview

Papa Stour is one the most remote of the Shetland Islands. The project improves connectivity at the mothballed school and is expected to help the community engage with online services and resources. This was the first Alpha Trial site to use OneWeb’s constellation and also the first Kymeta Flat Panel terminal to be commercially deployed in Europe.

Watch the video here.

Lundy Island

• Location: Devon, England
• Organisation: The Landmark Trust
• Technology trialled: OneWeb, using Dual Dome Parabolic Terminal

Project overview

Lundy Island lies 12 miles off the coast of North Devon, where the Atlantic ocean meets the Bristol Channel. Only 28 people live on the island but hundreds come to visit every year. The improved connectivity on the island will benefit the local community and businesses as well as improving wildlife conservation efforts. Watch the video of Lundy Island here.

Housesteads Roman Fort

• Location: Northumberland, England
• Organisation: English Heritage
• Technology trialled: Starlink

Project overview

Housesteads Roman Fort holds significant historical and cultural importance. As a well-preserved relic of Roman military architecture and occupation, it serves as a valuable educational and archaeological resource. As a cultural heritage site, it plays a crucial role in fostering an appreciation for the rich tapestry of history that has shaped the landscape of Northumberland and the broader story of human civilization. 

The trial will substantially enhance the slow and unreliable broadband provision at this site. This will improve the educational resources available at the site as well as supporting improvements in security, resilience and staff safety in a remote and weather-exposed location.

Blakeney Point

National Trust - Ian Ward

• Location: Norfolk Coast, England
• Organisation: National Trust
• Technology trialled: Starlink

Project overview

Renowned for its salt marshes, sand dunes, and shingle banks, Blakeney Point is widely recognised as both a haven for wildlife and a scenic tourism destination. The site is well-known for its resident and migratory bird populations. Accessible only by boat or on foot, Blakeney Point offers a chance to explore the beauty of the environment while fostering an appreciation for the importance of coastal conservation. 

The site was chosen as the Lifeboat House is the day-to-day base for the National Trust’s conservation work on Blakeney Point, which is an important site for breeding terns during the spring and summer months and home to England’s largest grey seal colony during the winter. The trial here will enable the rangers to work on the point, as well as improve personal safety and conservation efforts.

Loch of Strathbeg

• Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland
• Organisation: RSPB
• Technology trialled: Starlink

Project overview

As one of the largest coastal lagoons in the country, the Loch of Strathbeg plays a pivotal role in supporting diverse ecosystems and serves as a crucial habitat for migratory birds. Designated as a nature reserve, Loch of Strathbeg offers a serene refuge for a myriad of bird species, including swans, ducks, and waders, making it an essential site for birdwatching and conservation.  

The trial here aims to improve overall connectivity that will support conservation, environmental research and education opportunities as well as security and safety for those working here.

Grimes Graves

• Location: Norfolk, England
• Organisation: English Heritage
• Technology trialled: Starlink

Project overview

Grimes Graves represents one of the most extensive and well-preserved examples of flint mining in the world. The site features numerous pits, dug with remarkable precision by early inhabitants to extract high-quality flint for toolmaking. This prehistoric mining complex not only provides a window into the technological advancements of its time but also highlights the social and economic dynamics of Neolithic communities.  

Today, Grimes Graves has become a significant heritage site. The ongoing preservation efforts and educational initiatives at Grimes Graves ensure that its historical significance remains accessible, allowing contemporary audiences to appreciate the profound impact of early human ingenuity on the Norfolk landscape. 

Enhancing the connectivity at this site will improve access to site management, payment systems, and site safety, as well as allowing the development of new interpretative guides and experiences.

Isle of Gigha

• Location: Inner Hebrides, Scotland
• Organisation: Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust
• Technology trialled: Starlink

Project overview

The Isle of Gigha is home to a permanent community of around 110 people, and is celebrated for its beautiful beaches, rolling hills, and efforts to develop new forms of renewable agriculture and energy and environmental conservation.  

Businesses have already started to flourish on the island after residents purchased Gigha through a community buyout scheme in 2002, and further improvements in connectivity for key island facilities will now help to drive forward growth and provide additional resilience when required.

This trial, based at the Heritage Centre, is intended to give the Trust a back up connection for resilience, and allow DSIT to assess the performance of different terminal types and interworking of different technologies.