BICS, an international connectivity enabler, and satellite-direct-to-phone telecoms company Lynk Global, have signed an agreement to enable mobile network operators (MNOs) to expand mobile coverage to people in remote areas around the world.
The coverage areas announced by the partners will include North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, South-East Asia, and several rural areas in Africa.
Pairing Lynk’s patented satellite technology and BICS’ network, mobile operators will see network coverage extended to these areas that lack terrestrial cell towers.
Currently, say the partners, around 450 million people are locked out of digital communications. Many remote areas still remain largely unconnected because of the costs associated with building and maintaining land-based cell towers.
Lynk says its ‘cell tower in space’ technology provides a satellite-direct-to-mobile-phone service. By partnering with MNOs, BICS and Lynk aim to connect people who have, until now, lived completely off the grid.
BICS, a leading provider of mobile data services globally, will leverage its network to pair Lynk’s satellite constellation and the world’s mobile operators. Lynk’s technology allows standard roaming partner integration without any hardware or software changes to the mobile operators’ networks, bringing coverage to remote areas, islands and even offshore.
Charles Miller, Lynk CEO and co-founder, says: “Our partnership with BICS will allow MNOs to affordably expand their coverage and connect more people, saving lives and accelerating economic development for those living in the remotest parts of the world.”