Original article ISPreview UK:Read More
The UK telecoms, internet content and media regulator, Ofcom, has confirmed to ISPreview that the availability of Starlink’s ultrafast satellite broadband service now technically removes the need for consumers to request the 10Mbps+ Universal Service Obligation (USO) from BT across much of the country (or KCOM in Hull).
Just to recap. The USO is a legally-binding and industry-funded obligation that falls on BT across the UK and KCOM in Hull (although it’s rarely used in Hull, where FTTP is almost universal). In short, people living in areas where they can’t yet receive a 10Mbps or faster download speed, and aren’t expected to be covered by such a network in the next 12-months, can request a service capable of 10Mbps+ (1Mbps+ upload) from the forementioned internet providers.
A cost sharing model also applies here, which means that the providers will “calculate the total excess cost of the build and divide that between the eligible premises. If that amount is below £5,000 per premises (on top of the £3,400), we’ll automatically split the costs“. But in the past some areas could still end up costing hundreds of thousands of pounds, even up to £1-2m, and would thus find even the USO route to be unviable (here and here).
However, the USO is also technology neutral and so many of those who pursued the USO option via BT in the past say they were instead offered mobile broadband (4G /5G) connections via EE (where viable), while those actually considered to have been delivered under the USO itself usually get full fibre (FTTP).
What about starlink?
Previously Starlink wasn’t considered as a viable USO alternative, partly because it was too expensive. But today the situation is different and over the past few months it’s become possible to get Starlink’s 100Mbps residential package for just £40 per month (£50 if you include the hardware rental); the service was even cheaper than this before, at least for a brief period (here).
At the same time some people who have applied for the USO from BT have recently told ISPreview that their applications were rejected due to the availability of Starlink. Crucially, BT are only obliged to provide a USO connection if no other alternative that meets the criteria is available, and Ofcom has now confirmed to us that Starlink meets the criteria.
10Mbps USO – Core Specification
➤ A minimum download “sync” speed of at least 10Mbps (Megabits per second).
➤ A minimum upload “sync” speed of at least 1Mbps.
➤ A medium response time with end-to-end latency of no more than 200ms for speech applications (this rules out Satellite).
➤ A maximum sharing between customers (contention ratio) of 50:1.
➤ A minimum data allowance of 100GB.
➤ A technology neutral design.
➤ The service must be affordable – the price threshold in the USO criteria is currently £59.60 a month (at launch it was £45).
Some caveats to this are the fact that Starlink isn’t available everywhere (e.g. not everybody can access a clear view of the Sky or deploy a Starlink dish), the service pricing has an annoying tendency to vary (it may not always be viable) and some locations can occasionally attract a hefty congestion charge; the latter could make it harder for Starlink to qualify in those areas as a viable alternative to the USO. In those niche cases, customers can still approach BT to seek a connection on USO terms.
According to Ofcom’s latest data to January 2026 (here), some 39,000 UK premises are currently deemed “unable to access decent broadband [USO] from a fixed line or fixed wireless connection” – this splits down as 23,000 in England, 9,000 in Scotland, 6,000 in Wales and just 1,500 in Northern Ireland.
The change may provide an answer to the question of why the Government haven’t published further details on their approach to reaching those who live in “Very Hard to Reach” areas with even faster speeds, since Starlink seems to now be considered a quick fix.
Speaking of which, the Government has been due to review the USO itself for a while now (here), but no progress seems to have been made on that front. Of course, these days, there may be bigger concerns looming for Starlink and similar satellite-based services (here).