Elon Musk’s Starlink has been awarded a five-year contract worth £85,000 to bolster internet services for GP practices and administrative offices across remote parts of the North East and North Cumbria.
The deal, which involves installing 15 Starlink receivers, is part of a broader initiative by NHS North of England to upgrade network connections for healthcare providers in areas where traditional broadband and mobile coverage remain patchy.
Satellite-based connectivity is increasingly viewed as the solution to these so-called “not spots”—rural locations deemed too costly to service with conventional infrastructure. Starlink, which beams signals from low-earth orbit satellites, has surged in prominence by plugging coverage gaps worldwide. In addition to the NHS link-up, the West Midlands Ambulance Service began using Starlink receivers last year to enhance comms and location tracking in hard-to-reach regions.
However, Musk’s satellite venture has come under scrutiny due to his occasionally controversial political associations and statements. On Sunday, the billionaire claimed Ukraine’s “entire front line” could be jeopardised if he switched off Starlink services—a reminder of the technology’s pivotal role in conflict zones. Competition in the satellite sector is intensifying, with BT-owned EE, Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone all trialling or rolling out their own systems, and Jeff Bezos’s Project Kuiper also gearing up for a UK launch.
From the NHS perspective, satellite connectivity is vital to expanding the reach of telemedicine and ensuring uninterrupted service for virtual appointments. A spokesman for the NHS North of England Commissioning Support Unit (NECS) explained that these Starlink installations would remain subject to stringent security and governance measures, including encryption and virtual private network (VPN) protocols. The overarching aim, he noted, is to guarantee robust and secure internet access for remote healthcare providers—ultimately ensuring that patients receive reliable medical support no matter where they live.
