• O2 says its satellite service increases UK landmass coverage from 89% to 95% and works on compatible smartphones without separate satellite hardware
  • Ultimate Business Plans include the service, while Classic and Plus customers can add it for £2.50 a month excluding VAT

The fact

O2 Business has launched O2 Satellite for Business, extending its Starlink-backed direct-to-device service from consumers to business customers. Compatible Apple, Google and Samsung smartphones can connect to satellites when O2's terrestrial network is unavailable. O2 says the service increases its UK landmass coverage from 89% to 95% and supports messaging, maps, weather and location sharing through apps including WhatsApp, Messenger, Google Maps and Apple Maps.

O2 Satellite is included with Ultimate Business Plans. Customers on Classic and Plus plans can add it for £2.50 a month excluding VAT. No separate satellite hardware or app is required. O2 says the service works best outdoors with a clear view of the sky, does not cover every location and should not be relied on for emergency calls. The consumer service launched in February 2026.

The assessment

O2's business offer adds satellite connectivity to compatible phones already used by staff, rather than requiring a separate satellite handset. In areas without terrestrial coverage, workers can still send messages, use maps, and share their location, provided they have a clear view of the sky.

The service has clear limits. It does not provide full mobile coverage, works best outdoors and is not intended for emergency calls. Companies using it for remote staff will still need another option for urgent communications, especially where terrestrial coverage is unavailable for long periods.

For BTW readers, this makes satellite connectivity easier to add to an existing business mobile fleet. Companies still need to decide which employees need the service, which handsets support it and what backup is required when satellite coverage is not enough.

What to watch

Watch how many business customers add O2 Satellite and whether O2 publishes usage data from remote workers. Support for more applications, voice or emergency calling would expand what businesses can use the service for. Device compatibility and performance in rural not-spots will also test how useful the claimed 95% landmass coverage is in practice.