Vodafone Cook Islands is second operator to launch Lynk service

Details: Vaughan O'Grady; Category: Satellite Networks; 08 August 2023; 5183 views

Satellite-direct-to-standard-mobile-phone system Lynk and operator Vodafone Cook Islands have announced the start of an initial satellite direct-to-mobile-phone service to Vodafone Cook Islands subscribers using what Lynk calls its "cell-towers-in-space".

This deal makes Vodafone Cook Islands the second mobile network operator (MNO) in the world to launch Lynk's 'sat2phone' technology as a subscriber service after PNCC in Palau, which we reported in June.

Phillip Henderson, CEO, Vodafone Cook Islands, explains that the operator has been looking for innovative technology to improve connectivity to remote islands, atolls, and the sea in between and adds: “Lynk's service is unique in addressing our need to extend our mobile coverage but without burdensome capex. We see our remote communities, our fishers and visiting yachties making good use of the extra connectivity and coverage that Lynk provides."

Vodafone Cook Islands spans 15 islands and over 1,960,027 square kilometres of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Sat2Phone service will start as a beta service in an area called Manuae Route and extend over time. Dan Dooley, Lynk's chief commercial officer says: “Similar to the service we offer to PNCC in Palau, Lynk will also provide backup services that enhance network resilience when natural disasters damage the ground network.”

As we reported a week ago, Lynk Global last week released what it calls the first-ever video of a series of two-way voice calls between standard mobile phones connected via satellite.