Globe Telecom is using satellite technology to deliver mobile services to remote areas of the country in partnership with satellite communication company Lynk.
Their agreement is a step towards enhancing connectivity and access, particularly in unserved and underserved areas. This one-year collaboration will run until June 2025 with a live pilot trial launch anticipated within this year.
The program will use Lynk’s low earth orbit (LEO) satellites to deliver SMS, IP messaging apps, and emergency alerts to target regions lacking traditional terrestrial network coverage. These include far-flung locations with existing Globe enterprise clients and government installations, as well as tourist destinations with limited or unreliable cellular coverage.
Globe will pilot the service in Zambales, Pangasinan, Siargao, and Leyte.
“In line with our goal of empowering Filipinos through digital technology, we are looking for a solution to bring life-enabling connectivity to as many Filipinos as possible,” Gerhard Tan, senior director and head of network strategy and innovations, said.
“Through this satellite-direct-to-phone service, we hope to provide access wherever our customers are, connecting the unconnected through disruptive technology,” he added.
In 2022, Globe signed a non-commercial memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Lynk to conduct proof of concept (PoC) testing for the satellite-direct-to-phone (sat2phone) service using low earth orbit satellites in signal-deprived areas of Bataan. This was successfully completed in February last year.
During testing, Globe and Lynk successfully sent and received SMS notifications, transmitted messages outside the test location, and broadcast emergency alerts using standard mobile phones. The latency was within acceptable limits, and the overall results were promising.
As part of the collaboration, Globe and Lynk will also evaluate service viability in maritime routes, disaster zones, fishing grounds, and other areas that need improved connectivity through extended communication solutions.
The initiative will use typical mobile phones of customers participating in the pilot. With the data, Lynk can gain valuable insights they could use to design a commercially viable product that aligns with the deployment dynamics of satellite-direct-to-phone communication.
