About the C-LEO Programme
Published 6 March 2024
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The objective of the Connectivity in Low-Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme is to future-proof the UK’s competitive edge in the high-value satellite communication sector by enabling its diversification into the high-growth and strategically important high-volume constellation market, including:
- to accelerate the commercialisation and rapid industrialisation of key technologies and industry capabilities necessary for UK firms to meet demand for high-volume constellation production
- to enable UK firms to secure a significant and sustained share of the high-value contracts due in the next 4-5 years that will drive the future sector supply chain
- to develop the UK’s on-shore industrial capabilities in R&D-intensive activities of the constellation value chain
- to catalyse private sector investment in UK high-volume constellation sector by signalling the UK’s commitment to the long-term growth of the satellite communication sector
The C-LEO programme expects to support proposals with technology readiness levels (TRLs) of between 4 and 6, though higher TRL developments will be considered. This would include commercialising products for high-volume manufacture to form part of LEO constellations.
By the end of the project there must be a tangible improvement in the TRL of the technology or a demonstration of advancement in approach (engineering method, technical competence etc.) that would enable and support space industry as well as commercialise products for high-volume manufacture to form part of LEO constellations.
The UK Space Agency will be inviting proposals for emerging and innovative technology research and developments. The key technologies that C-LEO will seek to advance in the UK including:
- on-Board (Regenerative) Processing (OBP)
- active antennas
- optical Intersatellite Links (OISL)
- networking and Routing
- user terminals