Global satellite operator SES says it has signed a partnership agreement with direct-to-device (D2D) satellite startup Lynk Global to target the D2D segment with integrated services – with SES also providing Series B funding for Lynk as part of the deal.
Under the deal announced on Monday, SES will provide a suite of integrated services it says will enhance Lynk Global’s capabilities, such as MEO-Relay, which allows D2D providers to route traffic between LEO and SES’s medium earth orbit (MEO) network to access gateways.
SES said this enables delivery of secure real-time data, reduces investment requirements in ground infrastructure, and enhances the reach and resilience of D2D constellations.
Lynk will also leverage SES’s global ground network under a network-as-a-service (NaaS) arrangement for telemetry, tracking and command and monitoring (TTC & M) services.
SES will also become a strategic channel partner for Lynk Global's D2D network, enabling its own customers to benefit from applications including remote access, mission-critical first responder and secure government communications, offshore and automotive connectivity.
SES and Lynk Global will also collaborate in the development of Lynk's network architecture, as well as satellite manufacturing in the US and Europe.
SES CEO Adel Al-Saleh didn’t say how much money the company will invest in Lynk, but said the partnership will add a viable D2D component to its multi-orbit strategy.
“This partnership gives SES’s exposure into the D2D segment and is a key part of our strategy to diversify into this nascent, high-growth segment. SES’s multi-orbit network, particularly our MEO and ground infrastructure, will enhance the resilience, global reach, and innovation of Lynk's D2D network,” he said in a joint statement.
“This long-term strategic collaboration with SES will deeply integrate our networks to enhance our capabilities, and validates our LEO D2D network,” added Lynk Global CEO Ramu Potarazu. “With access to the right satellite infrastructure and dedicated ground infrastructure through SES, we are strengthening our ability to address government, MNO, and automotive D2D use-cases.”
Lynk says it has regulatory approvals in more than 30 countries and is currently being deployed commercially based on more than 50 MNO commercial service contracts covering approximately 60 countries, mostly in developing markets that see satellite services as key to extending connectivity to remote and unserved areas.
