Reliable connectivity has historically been a weak link on remote and temporary transport infrastructure sites. From rural road schemes to night-time motorway works, project teams often operate far from fixed-line broadband and are beyond the reach of dependable mobile signal.

But now, low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology, such as Starlink, is changing what is possible, and many in the sector are embracing it as a core operational tool.

One of the drivers is the changing national telecoms landscape. According to Jay Moorhouse, CEO of connectivity specialist Onwave, the UK’s legacy copper-based Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is being phased out, removing connectivity that has historically supported some remote and roadside assets. Replacing those links with new cabling is often costly and disruptive, particularly in isolated locations. 

Moorhouse adds that this is accelerating interest in satellite-based alternatives.

“Highways and infrastructure are incredibly dynamic environments. You’re in different places each day, often in remote or temporary locations,” he says. “With LEO satellites, you can literally install a terminal and have a site connected within an hour, without digging up a carriageway or waiting for a fixed line.”

Unlike traditional satellite services, LEO systems offer low latency and high bandwidth, making them suitable not just for emails but for operational systems, cloud platforms and real-time video conferencing and reporting. Moorhouse says the technology is increasingly being used both as a primary connection on remote sites and as a resilient back-up for critical assets such as tunnels and smart motorway infrastructure.

Benefits witnessed on live projects

Dan Wright, Senior Contracting Performance Manager at Tarmac, recalls using a LEO set-up during a project at Newcastle Airport, building a new runway, where the site compound was located around half a mile from the nearest viable connection point.

“To get a wired line in would have cost us £4,000-£5,000, which just wasn’t feasible for a temporary setup,” he explains. “We mounted the LEO satellite terminal on top of a site cabin, installed it ourselves in about 20 minutes and were getting 70-80 Mbps speeds.”

That level of connectivity allowed site teams to complete shift reports, order materials and share data directly from site, rather than returning to the office after night shifts. It also supported existing digital systems used to track deliveries and link with paving equipment, tools that are ineffective without a reliable connection.

For Wright, the safety implications are just as important: “We often work in areas with no mobile signal at all. Being able to make calls over Wi-Fi and send information in real-time is a big step forward, particularly when you’re managing vehicle movements and live operations.”

Initial scepticism among site teams quickly faded once the system was up and running. Tarmac now deploys terminals across remote projects in England and Scotland, moving them between sites as needed.

As digital tools become embedded in highways delivery and maintenance, dependable connectivity is no longer a luxury. Satellite communications, once seen as niche, are rapidly becoming part of the standard toolkit, helping to ensure that even the most remote sites remain fully connected to the wider network they support.

Image: Starlink antenna is often used in remote areas, as seen in a rural area within Roraima, Brazil. Credit: Shutterstock.