Major construction sites across the UK will deploy Elon Musk’s Starlink technology thanks to a a Bathgate satellite connectivity firm.
McLaren Construction has partnered with Clarus Networks Group on bringing low earth orbit satellite connectivity to most of its UK-based building projects.
The partnership aims to deliver high-speed internet connectivity with minimal set up time, significantly enhancing onsite productivity, safety, and security.
Within 12 months, Starlink satellite technology has now become the primary connectivity method for most UK McLaren construction projects.
Clarus Networks Group’s installation ensures robust, managed internet connectivity capable of supporting critical construction operations and innovative technology, such as real-time monitoring and artificial intelligence.
The adoption of Starlink has already transformed McLaren Construction’s technology infrastructure. It has delivered high-speed, reliable internet, vital for the smooth operation of digital tools and real-time communication. This technology guarantees that McLaren can maintain robust connectivity from day one on-site, even in remote or greenfield locations.
Digital transformation has been essential to McLaren as it reaches the £1 billion turnover mark and the scale of its largest projects grows. Rigorous systems are required for project management and to give senior managers oversight of the business. McLaren must ensure compliance with building safety legislation and demonstrate robust digital information management for all aspects of design, procurement, change control and quality control.
The integration of Starlink supports the company’s agile cloud-first architecture, enhancing productivity and reducing IT service disruptions. This allows for innovative AI technologies to enhance onsite health and safety, improve efficiency in producing and sharing CAD models from the site, and better communications between the site, management, and clients, combining to create a seamless experience for all.
Using Starlink, McLaren has experienced significantly improved onsite connectivity, overcoming the reliability and resilience limitations of terrestrial networks in remote areas. Starlink provides a high-speed connection through a constellation of thousands of satellites that orbit close to Earth. This proximity results in very low latency, ensuring fast data transfer with no lag time.
Daniel Blackman, IT Director at McLaren said: “We have increased investment in our people, skills, and tools to enhance digital construction delivery across the board. This level of growth in data generation and consumption at our construction projects demands a modern IT architecture with innovative connectivity methods. Clarus’s installation of Starlink at our sites has supported continuous data transfers and online service access, whilst ensuring a smooth IT experience, enabling innovation and adoption to be a success across the McLaren business.”
Derek Phillips, managing director at The Clarus Network Group, said: “Our partnership with McLaren marks a significant milestone in shaping the construction site of the future, where technology works seamlessly alongside those on site, encouraging the highest standards and unlocking transformative developments across the board.”
“Clarus was established nearly a decade ago, recognising a crucial need for effective and reliable communications on site. Starlink allows us to deliver lightning-fast speeds to even the most remote areas, empowering leaders like McLaren to drive improvements across all elements of their sites and projects.”
