Direct-to-phone satellite operator Lynk Global announced on Friday that Papua New Guinea state telco Telikom Limited has started offering Lynk’s Sat2Phone service to subscribers.
The initial Sat2Phone service in Papua New Guinea will be limited to SMS, as Lynk currently has just three LEOsats in orbit to support the service, out of a planned constellation of 5,000. Lynk says Telikom will be able to expand service to include voice and broadband once enough LEOsats are deployed.
“The initial service, starting in Hela Province, will extend in 2024 and beyond, allowing Telikom to better serve new and existing subscribers,” said Telikom CEO Amos Tepi in a statement. “Lynk’s network deployment will enable continuous mobile coverage, surpassing the limitations of traditional terrestrial mobile towers.”
Lynk says it’s signed commercial agreements with 36 MNOs around the world, the most recent being in November 2023 with Telikom-owned operator bmobile in the Solomon Islands. Last year, Lynk also launched initial services in Ghana, Palau and Cook Islands.
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.
