Excelerate
Hybrid Connex
As part of the European Space Agency’s Hybrid Connex project – one of the most ambitious digital ambulance trials in the UK – Cloud Gateway provided the HSCN connectivity layer that enabled 9,000+ patient records to be updated in the first month, 99% uptime across hospital emergency department trial sites, and stable connections in 88% of previously low-signal areas.
European Space Agency-backed ambulance trial -
9,000+ patient records updated in the first month, 99% uptime, 88% of low-signal areas stabilised.
The challenge
Digital transformation in frontline care relies on dependable connectivity. In both rural and urban environments, clinicians often experience unreliable network performance – slowing down care and adding delays to time-sensitive decisions.
Excelerate’s Hybrid Connex project, backed by the European Space Agency, combined satellite and cellular technologies into a single seamless solution to address this. Ambulance crews and hospital teams needed uninterrupted access to electronic patient records, telemedicine tools, and secure video communication – even in environments with weak or patchy coverage.
To support the Hybrid Edge Appliance developed by Excelerate, a reliable and secure connection to the HSCN was essential. Cloud Gateway was brought in to provide that critical infrastructure layer.
What we did
We provided secure and resilient HSCN connectivity, enabling healthcare applications and devices to operate seamlessly across mobile and fixed locations. Our connectivity layer integrated with Excelerate’s hybrid networking hardware, supporting data transfer between ambulance, hospital, and central NHS systems over bonded 4G, 5G, and satellite links.
Cloud Gateway’s HSCN access underpinned every device connection and uptime figure recorded across the trial.
The impact
Ambulance use case (East of England pilot)
- 88% of previously low-signal areas achieved a stable cellular connection
- LEO satellite used in 47% of jobs where mobile coverage was unavailable
- 100% coverage achieved in remaining not-spots through satellite alone
- Download speeds reached up to 150 Mbps
- Clinicians accessed EPRs, used telemedicine, made Wi-Fi calls and shared live data on the move
- Secure onboard Wi-Fi connected 99% of the time, benefiting nearby crews
Hospital Emergency Departments
- Over 37,700 device connections recorded across four trial sites
- More than 1TB of data transferred in five months
- 9,000+ patient records updated in the first month
- 99% uptime with speeds of up to 127 Mbps
- Faster escalations, reduced handover delays, and improved patient flow
The technology has since expanded from the ambulance pilot into four NHS hospital emergency departments across the East of England, as part of NHS England’s Future Connectivity Wireless Innovation Trials – with NHS England’s Digital Transformation Directorate monitoring results.
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