Elon Musk's Starlink satellite system is set to be used to improve farmers' broadband connections during a pilot scheme. Lincolnshire County Council said it wanted to purchase and install Starlink facilities for so-called "not spot" properties that do not have access to fibre broadband. The council owns a County Farms Estate, comprising about 16,500 acres and 149 holdings for tenants.
Paul Lock, executive councillor for the economy, said: "This pilot will help us see whether satellite broadband could offer a real practical solution for farms and other rural businesses that struggle with poor connectivity." He added: "Today, so much farming depends on being connected, from paperwork and accounting, to livestock management, or simply everyday communication. "In reality, it's becoming harder and harder to run a business without good internet access." Musk's SpaceX company has launched thousands of Starlink satellites into orbit in order to provide internet services, including in remote and rural areas. The council's pilot scheme, which has been developed alongside the Greater Lincolnshire Forum for Agriculture and Horticulture, aims to "develop potential solutions to rural connectivity".
Farmers who want to be involved in the trial are being asked to get in touch. Once the infrastructure is in place on the ground, farmers would need to subscribe to Starlink to use the service. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North.
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