--- title: "Low Earth Orbit Satellite Train Connectivity" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-058ac3" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-058ac3" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-058ac3.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-058ac3.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT" published: "2025-08-19" --- # Low Earth Orbit Satellite Train Connectivity Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-058ac3 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-058ac3) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-058ac3.json) ## Summary The Department for Transport is in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "Low Earth Orbit Satellite Train Connectivity," aimed at enhancing on-train WiFi for rail passengers by 2030. This project, situated in the United Kingdom with a focus on communications networks and satellite-related equipment, is part of the outcomes of the Spending Review 2025. The procurement seeks to upgrade current onboard WiFi systems by integrating low earth orbit satellite connectivity, significantly boosting internet speeds. Interested suppliers have until 15th September 2025 to submit confidential responses during the market engagement phase, which will be used to inform the Department's procurement strategy. This procurement presents substantial business opportunities, especially for companies specialising in communications networks and satellite technology. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) are encouraged to partake, as the project is open to diverse stakeholders. Participation in this tender process could lead to valuable partnerships and increased visibility in the transportation and technology sectors, offering a chance for companies to contribute to a nationwide infrastructure upgrade, thereby fuelling growth and innovation. Businesses that are adept at providing state-of-the-art connectivity solutions would be well-positioned to compete for this contract. ## Notice The Department for Transport secured funding as part of Spending Review 2025 to improve the provision of on-train wifi for rail passengers. Our objective is to retro-fit the majority of Great British Railway train operators' mainlines trains by 2030. We intend to upgrade the existing in-carriage on-train wifi equipment to the latest standards, provide low earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet connectivity to enhance the existing mobile network operator connections, and hence deliver a more generally available higher speed internet connection for wifi-connected rail passengers. To meet our objectives and timescales, we are developing our procurement and delivery strategies. To help shape our approach we are now seeking engagement with interested parties in the value chain including suppliers and stakeholders. Details of this requirement, such as a firm value approach to procuring and competition timelines are unknown at this stage and will be informed by the outcome of this engagement exercise. For further details of this requirement and how to engage with the Department, please follow this link to the Department's e-sourcing platform https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/go/889244250198C2E6A8E3. If you are not already registered on the Department's e-sourcing platform Jaggaer, you can do so here https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html ### Planning Information Our intent is to undertake a two-part market engagement consisting of: An initial request for confidential responses from value chain suppliers to our five questions submitted in writing; and Potential follow up one-to-one conversations with the Department to discuss responses in further detail. The deadline for initial written responses to our questions is 15/09/2025. Follow up one-to-ones will continue after this date. The collated information will be used to inform the Department's procurement strategy and approach to delivering the government's objectives. Our intention is to not publish Supplier responses, nor a collated summary. Suppliers responses to this exercise will have no impact on any future competitions for this work. We may undertake further engagement throughout the process as we develop our procurement strategy and approach to delivering this requirement further. For full information on the requirement and details of the questions we are requesting initial responses to, please follow this link https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/go/889244250198C2E6A8E3. If you are not already registered on the Department’s e-sourcing platform Jaggaer, you can do so here https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/049936-2025 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 19 Aug 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 15 Sep 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 May 2026 - 1 Jan 2030 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | South West London | | Postcode | SW1P 4DR | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London | | Local authority | Westminster | | Electoral ward | Vincent Square | | Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment ### Codes - 32412000 - Communications network - 32530000 - Satellite-related communications equipment - 32531000 - Satellite communications equipment ## Release History - 19 Aug 2025 at 15:20 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/049936-2025 - 19 Aug 2025 at 15:17 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/049932-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/049936-2025 19th August 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/049932-2025 19th August 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/go/889244250198C2E6A8E3 - https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-058ac3. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-058ac3.json.