Digital solutions provider Globe has expanded its partnership with Lynk, a satellite-direct-to-phone (sat2phone) service provider, launching a live customer pilot program to improve connectivity in remote areas of the Philippines.
This initiative, running until June 2025, hopes to improve communication access in regions where traditional networks are unavailable or unreliable.
Under the new agreement signed this month, Globe and Lynk will utilize Lynk’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation to deliver SMS, IP messaging apps, and emergency alerts to underserved areas. Target regions for the pilot include Zambales, Pangasinan, Siargao, and Leyte, known for their limited cellular coverage.
“Through this satellite-direct-to-phone service, we hope to provide access wherever our customers are, connecting the unconnected through disruptive technology,” said Gerhard Tan, senior director and head of Network Strategy and Innovations at Globe.
The collaboration between Globe and Lynk began in 2022 with a Non-Commercial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to test the Satellite-Direct-to-Phone service in Bataan. This Proof of Concept (PoC) was completed successfully on Feb. 21, 2023, showing the potential of LEO satellites to support standard mobile phones in signal-deprived areas. During the tests, the team successfully sent and received SMS notifications, transmitted messages, and broadcast emergency alerts with low latency, indicating promising results for the technology.
The pilot program will focus on gathering data from typical mobile phone users in the test regions. This data will help Lynk design a commercially viable product tailored to the specific needs of satellite-direct-to-phone communication. In addition to remote regions, Globe and Lynk will explore the service’s viability in maritime routes, disaster zones, and fishing grounds, providing extended communication solutions where needed.