ABM Q4 - Flipbook - Page 65
OPINION
FLEET
Resilient connectivity
can unlock mobility
→ Richard Hart is business development director at Viasat
I
n recent research with the 5GAA,
we found that 76% of drivers
experience mobile signal loss
every week. It is not only rural
roads, remote worksites and other
harder-to-reach environments that
suffer from patchy of unavailable
connectivity.
New standards-based NonTerrestrial Network (NTN) solutions
could help plug this gap, complementing
existing 4G and 5G infrastructure
to create the resilient connectivity
foundation needed for the UK’s
connected mobility future.
From funding to deployment
Connected mobility is expanding
beyond passenger cars to encompass
public transport, heavy construction
equipment, airport operational vehicles,
and highways maintenance machinery
operating across public infrastructure.
To progress beyond isolated trials, the
UK’s vehicle manufacturing, technology,
and supplier ecosystem must develop
and collaborate alongside connectivity
infrastructure, ensuring machines
maintain constant access for safe
remote monitoring and operation.
Moving forward requires dedicated
R&D focused on terminal development,
hardware integration, and stringent
safety protocol. By establishing a
synchronised ecosystem, operators can
ensure that vehicles and machinery
maintain access to the continuous
connectivity required for safe operation,
real-time monitoring, and fleet
communication as deployments expand.
Autonomous vehicles
As connected and autonomous vehicles
move into commercial settings,
continuous communication becomes
even more essential. Platforms depend
on uninterrupted data flows, hazard
alerts, fleet tracking, remote diagnostics,
and control centre communications.
Coverage loss delays safety alerts,
reduces visibility of vehicles and
cargo, and restricts access to remote
assistance. While terrestrial 4G and 5G
remain primary networks, autonomous
services require guaranteed resilience
whenever vehicles travel beyond cellular
reach or encounter network disruptions.
Building the foundations
Satellite-enabled NTN can act as a
complementary layer, allowing all
connected vehicles to switch seamlessly
to satellite coverage when cellular signals
fail using a single, standardised solution.
This extends connectivity across rural
routes, maintenance corridors, and
industrial sites, or simply when networks
are congested or fail during, for example,
natural disasters.
Near-term applications focus on safety
– emergency calling, disaster traffic
management – alongside fleet tracking
and diagnostics. Commercial appetite is
already established, with Viasat research
showing that 75% of drivers are willing to
pay for satellite-backed connectivity.
Recent progress, such as our live
satellite-to-vehicle demonstrations in
Munich, show that satellite connectivity
can effectively support emergency,
safety, and operational applications
directly within vehicle platforms. There
is far more work required, of course, but
Government support and funding shows
clear ambition to bring these services
to market.
Widespread adoption will depend on
sustained cross-sector collaboration
between automotive manufacturers,
telecommunication operators, satellite
providers, software developers, and road
infrastructure managers.
Terrestrial mobile networks and
satellite systems must develop alongside
the wider automotive ecosystem
to maximise public investment and
establish safe, resilient, and connected
transport on a national scale.
Q4 2026
AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS
65
