NSSLGlobal now a member of UKSpace

“Contributing to the National Space Agenda….”

This week NSSLGlobal was proud to join UKSpace, the trade association of Britain’s growing space industry, forming part of our continued commitment to contribute towards the growth of the UK space sector.  UKSpace represents companies operating in both the “upstream” (mainly space manufacturers) and “downstream” (mainly those that deliver services) sectors.   

Space is a key part of the nation’s economy, worth some £15Bn a year to the UK (of which most is downstream revenue, albeit space manufacturing has shown significant recent growth) and employs some 40,000 people.  Space is also key to the nation’s capability enabling almost all facets of modern life particularly the financial sector, emergency services and defence and hence is categorised as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI).  UKSpace is at the forefront of the UK space community and in promoting the industry and working with the UK Space Agency, across Government, into Europe and globally. 

Space plays a part in answering 3 questions:

Where are you? (Global Positioning and Navigation).

What is going on around you? (Earth observation and Space Situational Awareness).

Who can I talk to? (Satcom). 

This is a key period for the industry, with Brexit taking place and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic causing uncertainty, but what is clear is that space is firmly on the national agenda with developments in space launch, investment in satellite test facilities and more support from the Government for the industry.  Hybrid communications networks is also a developing theme, where the choice and resilience benefits of allowing systems and applications to utilise multiple bearers whether satellite or otherwise and including a developing role in 5G, could bring much to customers.  With national thoughts also developing around what the UK Global Navigation Satellite System programme becomes, major defence programmes underway and growth of the UK Space Operations Centre, there is much to do for the UK’s space sector.

NSSLGlobal is proud to be a strong UK company with a 50+ year presence and heritage delivering services to a growing customer base at sea, on land and also in the air.  With offices and capabilities across the globe, NSSLGlobal has worked in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA)on pioneering technology, and delivered numerous secure SatLink® networks for NATO countries.  We have 40 years of delivering communications to the UK Ministry of Defence, and work with many companies in the UK and across Europe.  Joining UKSpace we now look forward to contributing more to the community.

Neil Fraser

Director – Defence and Space Programmes

Get in touch: neil.fraser@nsslglobal.com