O2 Satellite helps firefighters stay connected during Derbyshire wildfire response

• Firefighters responding to the wildfire near Tintwistle in Derbyshire are using O2 Satellite to remain connected an area with no traditional mobile coverage
• Satellite-enabled phones were provided to Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service by O2 and are being used operationally at the fire scene
• Crews are using the service to stay in contact with colleagues, share updates and access vital information to aid the emergency response

Teams of firefighters responding to a major wildfire near Tintwistle in Derbyshire are using O2 Satellite to stay connected while working in an area with no traditional mobile coverage.

The remote location of the fire, which has been declared a major incident, means conventional mobile networks are unable to reach crews at the scene, making satellite connectivity their only option.

O2 has provided 100 satellite-ready phones to Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service to help its crews stay connected in the remote location. The devices have been used at the fire scene over several days, providing crews with a connection where no terrestrial mobile signal is available.

Firefighters have used the service to stay in contact with colleagues, share updates and access important information while working on the ground. This provides greater peace of mind and helped keep crews safe during the response.

O2 Satellite connects compatible smartphones directly to satellites when they move beyond the reach of terrestrial mobile networks. O2’s satellite service – the only one currently available in the UK – complements the operator’s existing network by providing an additional layer of connectivity across remote parts of the UK.

Area Manager Nathan Stevens at Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, who used O2 Satellite at the scene, said: “We are responding to a serious wildfire in an area with no traditional mobile signal, and O2 Satellite is providing an additional communications option during the incident.

“I have been using the phones at the scene and have found them useful. Having access to them is helping us share information as the situation develops and providing another way for firefighters and partner agencies to stay connected when needed.

“Wildfires often take crews into remote and challenging locations, where staying connected can be difficult. Our experience at Tintwistle has showed how satellite-enabled phones can provide vital connectivity for teams working on the ground.”

Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer, at Virgin Media O2, said: “Firefighters responding to incidents like this work in incredibly difficult conditions, often in remote locations where conventional mobile coverage can be limited or unavailable.

“We’re proud that with O2 Satellite we are able to help crews stay connected during the response at Tintwistle. This is exactly what the service was created to do: complement our terrestrial mobile network and provide an additional layer of connectivity when people move beyond its reach.

“The positive feedback from the brilliant firefighters using the service shows the genuine difference direct-to-device satellite technology can make in the real world.”

O2 Satellite is the UK’s first direct-to-device satellite service offering basic data connectivity. It works automatically on compatible smartphones when terrestrial coverage is unavailable, helping extend O2’s mobile coverage to 95% of the UK’s landmass.

ENDS