UK Government publishes a refreshed Space Strategy for 2030 and beyond
One year after the Modern Industrial Strategy, and following a more recent Government restructure, the UK Government has launched a new Space Strategy. The first novelty is in the sectors identified as priority areas for faster development: satellite communications, space domain awareness, in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing, and access to space. Positioning, Navigation and Timing, and Earth Observation have been retained as key subsectors, with space discovery also brought into the fold.
The foundations for the strategic approach to space bring together traditional ambitions, with one interesting turn. Beyond developing a skilled workforce, restoring a focus on international partnerships, and setting out a wide-ranging outlook for stronger resilience, security and sustainability, pro-growth regulation and spectrum management feature as key areas for enabling growth.
This is key as DBIST and DCMS now have a renewed interest in the strategic use of radiofrequency spectrum. Spectrum policy is pervasive across most of the subsectors, and critical to satellite communications, ISAM, PNT and Earth Observation, from mitigating the potential for interference to enabling services delivered by multi-orbit constellations. Specially as sovereignty is treated under each subsector.
Read techUK’s report on Confident Sovereignty for a framework
Unlike 2022’s ten-point plan, the current strategy provides a six-tiered approach. A clear emphasis is placed on rolling out fewer but better funding programmes, while taking a more disciplined view of the commercial benefits of R&D before promoting the research itself. It also positions Government as an anchor customer where appropriate and seeks to align funding with the dual-use potential of emerging technologies. Strategic relationships with priority companies are expected to help build a better understanding of markets and the scale-up challenge, while exports through trade missions are also identified as an important route to growth.
It does raise that Government will support the entire value chain, anticipating market consolidation in the near future. By bringing attention to start-ups’ routes to commercialisation and scale-up potential, the strategy outlines the importance of clusters and assured routes to investment, from procurement to public financial institutions.
Led by the Government Commercial Agency, the Enterprise Space Category will provide a one-stop shop for companies seeking access to public contracts across defence and civil applications. Furthermore, it should provide greater clarity around the bidding process.
Looking at a closer relationship with Europe and NATO, the policy direction is set around using the UK’s position to shape the rules governing space. This ambition is also backed by a pro-growth regulatory approach to licensing, creating more predictable pathways for emerging activities.
Regarding resilience and security, the UK MOD and DBIST will work together to develop a roadmap for the Control of Space Requirement. This framework will allow for regular updates to defence space policy, based on maintaining freedom of action and preventing threats.
The strategy has set out that a resilient and integrated national satellite communications architecture, with clearer interoperability standards, will be available by 2030. By 2035, this is expected to underpin cutting-edge government satellite communications services through a “network of networks”, as commercial satellite connectivity becomes more closely integrated with terrestrial 5G and 6G networks across the UK and Overseas Territories.
For PNT, the objectives focus on reducing dependence on GNSS through secure space-enabled time transfer, a resilient eLoran timing architecture, concept studies for GNSS-independent global time transfer and hybrid terrestrial-space PNT, alongside a new national capability to monitor and respond to interference. This is coupled with stronger testing and modelling facilities and an updated regulatory framework to manage the risks from jamming, spoofing and misuse.
On Earth Observation, the strategy is similarly practical, seeking consolidated public sector access to high-quality EO data, better exploitation of EO data in commercial markets, and continued leadership in climate and environmental monitoring.
Despite recent changes, the Government remains committed to retaining the One Government approach to space. This means drawing on the collective strength of all departments to deliver coordinated policymaking, reach scale, and work with the sector to capture strategic input in establishing a shared direction of travel.
Altogether, the current space strategy does look more focused on supporting companies to achieve their full potential. By establishing an ecosystem where organisations can thrive in their commercial pursuits, it looks like the UK space sector has a more tangible roadmap for pursuing priority areas and reaching a stronger position in the international space market.
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Meet the team
Tales Gaspar
Programme Manager, UK SPF and Satellite, techUK
Tales has a background in law and economics, with previous experience in the regulation of new technologies and infrastructure.
In the UK and Europe, he offered consultancy on intellectual property rights of cellular and IoT technologies and on the regulatory procedures at the ITU as a Global Fellow at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI).
Tales has an LL.M in Law and Business by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) and an MSc in Regulation at the London School of Economics, with a specialization in Government and Law.
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- [email protected]
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- +44 (0) 0207 331 2000
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Sophie Greaves
Associate Director, Digital Infrastructure, techUK
Sophie Greaves is Associate Director for Digital Infrastructure at techUK, overseeing the Telecoms Programme, the Data Centres Programme, and the UK Spectrum Policy Forum.
Sophie leads our work across telecoms networks, security and resilience, supply chain diversification, advanced communications technologies, spectrum policy, and data centres - bringing these areas together into a dedicated Digital Infrastructure unit. She was previously Head of Telecoms and Spectrum Policy.
Prior to joining techUK, Sophie completed a masters in Film Studies at University College London; her dissertation examined US telecoms policy relating to net neutrality and content distribution.
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- [email protected]
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- 0207 331 2038
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- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiegreaves/,https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiegreaves/
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Josh Turpin
Senior Programme Manager, Telecoms and Net Zero, techUK
Josh joined techUK as a Programme Manager for Telecoms and Net Zero in August 2024.
In this role, working jointly across the techUK Telecoms and Climate Programmes, Josh is responsible for leading on telecoms infrastructure deployment and uptake and supporting innovation opportunities, as well as looking at how the tech sector can be further utilised in the UK’s decarbonisation efforts.
Prior to joining techUK, Josh’s background was in public affairs and communications, working for organisations across a diverse portfolio of sectors including defence, telecoms and infrastructure; aiding clients through stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, media outreach as well as secretariat duties.
Outside of work, Josh has a keen interest in music, painting and sailing.
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- [email protected]
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- 020 7331 2038
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- https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-turpin/
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