Rural homes and businesses could see a boost to their broadband connections if a trial to use satellites to deliver high-speed connections is successful.

A trial launched today will see the extent to which satellites can be used to deliver high-speed connections to more than a dozen ‘very hard to reach’ locations.

The use of satellites could help the less than 1% of sites which are too difficult to upgrade via physical cables in more extreme locations such as mountainous areas or small islands.

If the trials are successful, the Government said it would consider the viability of using satellite technology to improve access to fast internet.

Digital secretary Michelle Donelan said: ‘High-speed broadband beamed to earth from space could be the answer to the connectivity issues suffered by people in premises stuck in the digital slow lane.

‘Ensuring everyone can get a quality internet connection is crucial to our levelling up plans and these trials aim to find a solution to the prohibitively high cost of rolling out cables to far-flung locations.’

The Government also announced today that from early next year, eligible homes and businesses will be able to apply for up to £4,500 to cover the costs of a gigabit-capable connection, up from £1,500 for homes and £3,500 for businesses previously.

The announcements come as the Government signs its biggest contract under its £5bn programme, Project Gigabit. The £108m contract, awarded to Northern Ireland-based provider Fibrus, will connect up to 60,000 rural homes and businesses in Cumbria.

Cllr Mark Hawthorne, digital connectivity spokesperson for the Local Government Association (LGA), welcomed the announcements.

‘Tackling the digital divide will be important to levelling up including in rural and remote locations, whether it be via fixed gigabit-capable connections or satellite and we look forward to seeing this rolled out as soon as possible,’ he said.

‘Fast, reliable internet access is an everyday necessity and this latest announcement will help boost connectivity to more places. Expanding the voucher scheme to more homes and businesses will help them overcome costly barriers to getting online and benefit from the fastest speeds, creating jobs and opportunities in the process.’

Cllr Hawthorne also called on the Government to give councils the power to appoint local digital champions.

‘Alongside this, the Government should empower councils to place a local digital champion in every local area, who would be a central point of contact for government and broadband providers to help rollout gigabit-capable broadband as quickly as possible,’ he said.

‘Councils across the country are working hard to support their residents through the cost of living crisis and, with the right funding and powers, could use their local expertise to play a far greater role targeting those most in need, driving demand and providing the necessary skills to support the rollout.’