Satellite deal with OneWeb will increase reliability of entertainment delivery to British military

A new way of delivering entertainment and news to British military serving abroad has been designed to enhance the service.  

BFBS, the military broadcasters and parent company of Forces News, announced a partnership with satellite company OneWeb at an event to mark its 80th anniversary.  

BFBS delivers live and on-demand TV and radio, as well as digital newspapers and magazines, to personnel where internet access is either limited or non-existent, such as on ships at sea.

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OneWeb's low earth orbit (LEO) satellites will provide increased bandwidth and low latency connectivity.  

This means the signal is less likely to be disrupted by the superstructure of a ship and could allow for a range of enhancements, including more channels and more on-demand content.

The entertainment system is delivered on board by BFBS's MiPlayer Edge which is the size of a large tablet and is lighter and less power-hungry than a standard MiPlayer.  

This makes it more sustainable and it can run off solar panels. 

The announcement was made by BFBS CEO Simon Bucks at an event hosted by Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle at Speaker's House in London.

Nick Beer, BFBS Director of Development and Strategy, said: "We are thrilled to be announcing BFBS's partnership with OneWeb and the evolution of MiPlayer Edge.

"We believe that OneWeb's technology represents the best option for the reliable delivery of BFBS's services in poorly connected locations – especially on ships at sea.  

"This allows us to more effectively deliver services to the UK Armed Forces when they are stationed in remote areas overseas." 

Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Chris Moore, VP Defence and Security at OneWeb, said: "Having reliable and always-on connectivity is paramount to the welfare and retention of service personnel.  

"Young soldiers, sailors and aviators have grown up in a connected world with on-tap internet, 24/7 social media, streaming entertainment and gaming.

"Being able to combine OneWeb's global connectivity with BFBS and its impressive MiPlayer Edge tech will allow service personnel to stay in touch with family, friends and the world around them, wherever they are, whenever they need it. 

"This is the new Theatre Entry Standard for retention, mental health and wellbeing." 

See about.bfbs.com/80 for more details about BFBS's 80th anniversary.