Derbyshire Firefighters Use O2 Satellite Service to Help Tackle Wildfire

Firefighters in Derbyshire (England) recently provided a good unintentional demonstration of why services like the new O2 Satellite add-on are so useful. The teams, who were responding to the wildfire near Tintwistle, were able to use the UK service to maintain mobile connectivity in an area with no traditional 4G or 5G mobile network coverage.

Just to recap. The new Direct-to-Device (D2D) service harnesses SpaceX’s global Starlink constellation in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to support a satellite based 4G mobile data (broadband) connection to normal Smartphones via part of the 1800MHz (B3) band, which can be added to existing mobile plans for just £3 extra (monthly) and enables connectivity in even some of the remotest parts of the UK.

The service, when enabled, effectively boosts O2’s UK landmass mobile coverage from 89% to 95% and is designed to complement O2’s existing mobile network (i.e. customers will connect automatically when traditional cellular coverage is unavailable). This came in handy during the recent wildfire as 100 supporting phones had already been provided to Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service by O2, which sometimes have to operate in very remote rural areas.

The devices were used at the fire scene over several days, providing crews with a connection where no terrestrial mobile signal is available. Firefighters used the service to stay in contact with colleagues, share updates and access important information while working on the ground.

Nathan Stevens, Area Manager at Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, said:

“We are responding to a serious wildfire in an area with no traditional mobile signal, and O2 Satellite is providing an additional communications option during the incident.

I have been using the phones at the scene and have found them useful. Having access to them is helping us share information as the situation develops and providing another way for firefighters and partner agencies to stay connected when needed.

Wildfires often take crews into remote and challenging locations, where staying connected can be difficult. Our experience at Tintwistle has showed how satellite-enabled phones can provide vital connectivity for teams working on the ground.”