Direct-to-phone satellite operator Lynk Global announced that it has successfully tested its Sat2Phone technology in Argentina for the first time in collaboration with Telefónica.
Lynk Global said the test was conducted in Patagonia – said to be one of the most remote regions in the world – via Telefónica’s business units Telefónica Argentina and Telefónica Global Solutions (TGS).
Lynk said its Sat2Phone technology – which enables mobile users to connect to the network direct to its constellation of LEO satellites using standard mobile phones – could enable Telefónica to offer its subscribers enhanced geographic coverage, including extending rural coverage in areas where it is nearly impossible to deploy terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure, such as jungles or mountainous areas.
In addition, the Sat2Phone technology could be used as a back-up to ensure service resilience and provide always-on connectivity to IoT networks.
“[Patagonia] welcomes thousands of visitors every year and thanks to this collaboration, we can help them stay connected via Lynk's satellite constellation using their existing Movistar subscription,” said Lynk’s chief commercial officer Daniel Dooley.
Gustavo Arditti, satellite business director of TGS, noted that Argentina is the second largest country in South America and the eighth largest in the world by land area, with a diverse geography including the Andes mountain range in the west.
“Given the vast expanse of Argentina, the use of Sat2Phone will ensure that people can stay connected using any unmodified phone, which is a cornerstone of our strategic roadmap,” he said.
Lynk currently has three LEOsats in orbit to support its Sat2Phone service, out of a planned constellation of 5,000. The company says it has regulatory approvals in at least 30 countries to offer the service, and has signed commercial agreements with 36 MNOs around the world. Lynk currently offers cell broadcast (emergency) alerts, and two-way SMS messaging, and intends to launch voice and mobile broadband services in the future.
Lynk has two more satellites scheduled for launch in the first quarter of this year via SpaceX. The company currently aims to have enough satellites for global coverage in 2025.