Lynk Global

Lynk Global, founded in 2017, is pioneering the development of a satellite-to-mobile-phone constellation, effectively creating "cell towers in space". The company was established by Charles Miller, Margo Deckard, and Tyghe Speidel, who brought together extensive experience in the space industry, public-private partnerships, and systems engineering. The concept for Lynk emerged from an endeavor to find a compelling application for small satellites, leading to the ambition of connecting satellites directly to standard mobile phones. This idea was informed by Deckard's analysis of communications during the 2014 Ebola crisis, where she noted the primary use of satellite terminals was for simple texting, highlighting a critical need for basic, reliable connectivity that could be met by leveraging the phones people already own.

The company's business model is centered on a B2B wholesale approach, partnering with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) globally. By integrating Lynk's satellite network with their existing infrastructure, MNOs can extend coverage to rural and remote areas without the significant capital expenditure of building terrestrial towers. This provides MNOs with new revenue opportunities in untapped markets and offers subscribers continuous connectivity. Lynk generates revenue through these service agreements with MNOs. Its primary clients are MNOs, but the service is also vital for government agencies and emergency response organizations.

Lynk's core service provides direct-to-device connectivity from its constellation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to any standard, unmodified mobile phone. This patented technology circumvents the need for special hardware or software on the user's end. The system works similarly to a roaming network, where a phone automatically connects to Lynk's satellite network when out of range of its home network. A significant milestone was achieved in February 2020, when Lynk sent the world's first text message from a satellite to a standard mobile phone on the ground. The initial service offering focuses on two-way SMS messaging and emergency alerts, with plans to scale to support voice and mobile broadband services as the satellite constellation grows. The company holds a commercial license from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and has launched multiple operational satellites.

Keywords: satellite-to-phone, direct-to-device, MNO partnerships, satellite constellation, global connectivity, rural communication, emergency communication, LEO satellites, mobile network extension, sat2phone, universal mobile broadband, telecommunications infrastructure, space technology, mobile backhaul, IoT connectivity, remote connectivity solutions, cell tower in space, unmodified mobile phones, satellite roaming