Lynk Global is an American company developing a satellite-to-mobile-phone

satellite constellation A satellite constellation is a group of artificial satellites working together as a system. Unlike a single satellite, a constellation can provide permanent global or near-global pass (spaceflight), coverage, such that at any time everywhere on E ...

that aims to provide a "cell tower in space" capability for global

mobile phone A mobile phone or cell phone is a portable telephone that allows users to make and receive calls over a radio frequency link while moving within a designated telephone service area, unlike fixed-location phones ( landline phones). This rad ...

service coverage, including in underserved rural areas without cellular coverage. Lynk has requested a license from the US

Federal Communications Commission The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, internet, wi-fi, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains j ...

to launch up to ten test satellites as early as 2022, with the goal to begin continuous global coverage in 2025 using a

constellation A constellation is an area on the celestial sphere in which a group of visible stars forms Asterism (astronomy), a perceived pattern or outline, typically representing an animal, mythological subject, or inanimate object. The first constellati ...

of several thousand satellites. As of March 2025, Lynk has an agreement with global satellite operator, SES, for funding and services using SES's fleet of

geostationary A geostationary orbit, also referred to as a geosynchronous equatorial orbit''Geostationary orbit'' and ''Geosynchronous (equatorial) orbit'' are used somewhat interchangeably in sources. (GEO), is a circular geosynchronous orbit in altitud ...

and

medium Earth orbit A medium Earth orbit (MEO) is an geocentric orbit, Earth-centered orbit with an altitude above a low Earth orbit (LEO) and below a high Earth orbit (HEO) – between above sea level.

satellites and ground infrastructure to enhance Lynk's direct-to-device capabilities.

History

Lynk Global Inc. was founded in 2017 by Charles Miller, Margo Deckard, and Tyghe Speidel. The business plan for Lynk came out of a multi-year effort to look for the

killer app A killer application (often shortened to killer app) is any software that is so necessary or desirable that it proves the core value of some larger technology, such as its host computer hardware, video game console, software platform, or operati ...

for

small satellite A small satellite, miniaturized satellite, or smallsat is a satellite of low mass and size, usually under . While all such satellites can be referred to as "small", different classifications are used to categorize them based on mass. Satellites c ...

s, specifically satellites as small as

cubesat A CubeSat is a class of small satellite with a form factor of cubes. CubeSats have a mass of no more than per unit,, url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5418c831e4b0fa4ecac1bacd/t/5f24997b6deea10cc52bb016/1596234122437/CDS+REV14+2020-07-3 ...

-class

nanosatellite A small satellite, miniaturized satellite, or smallsat is a satellite of low mass and size, usually under . While all such satellites can be referred to as "small", different classifications are used to categorize them based on mass. Satellites c ...

s, which led to the concept of connecting a satellite directly to a

. The idea had been thought to not be possible by some, but the Lynk concept and patents gave Lynk founders and investors confidence it was achievable. Lynk raised from investors during early years and expects to raise a round later in 2021. In February 2020, Lynk "sent the world's first

text message Text messaging, or texting, is the act of composing and sending electronic messages, typically consisting of alphabetic and numeric characters, between two or more users of mobile phones, tablet computers, smartwatches, desktop computer, des ...

from a satellite in orbit to a standard

on the ground" in a test supported by both NASA and several mobile network operators. On 25 May 2021, Lynk filed with the US telecommunications regulator, the FCC, to license Lynk's satellites and multiple satellite launches, with the goal to enable global mobile connectivity from space-based assets. By May 2021, Lynk had launched four "cell-tower-in-space" test satellites into orbit. The fifth one, ''Shannon'', was launched on 29 June 2021 and is a test sat of a new design suitable for

mass production Mass production, also known as mass production, series production, series manufacture, or continuous production, is the production of substantial amounts of standardized products in a constant flow, including and especially on assembly lines ...

. ''Shannon'' is larger and operates at a higher power level and greater telecom capacity than the earlier test satellites. According to Lynk, the design is capable of being scaled up to provide greater communications throughput. On 25 July 2023, Lynk published the first public video demonstrating a satellite-to-phone voice-call, though earlier in April of the same year, AST SpaceMobile claimed to have made the first space-based two-way telephone call with an unmodified smartphone. In March 2025, Lynk Global and satellite operator, SES announced a parnership, in which SES will provide investment in Lynk Global along with integrated services to relay traffic between the Lynk Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation and SES's

O3b mPOWER O3b mPOWER is a communications satellite system owned and operated by SES. The system uses high-throughput and low- latency satellites in a medium Earth orbit (MEO), along with ground infrastructure and intelligent software, to provide multip ...

medium Earth orbit (LEO) satellite system to access gateways for secure real-time data delivery; and telemetry, tracking, command and monitoring services. Lynk and SES will also collaborate in the development of Lynk’s network architecture and satellite manufacturing in the US and Europe.''SES’ + Lynk Global’s D2D services strategic partnership announced''
satnews 18 March 2025. Accessed 30 April 2025

Technology

According to the company, Lynk satellite mobile technology is capable of connecting to standard mobile phones from satellites in -

altitude Altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum (geodesy), datum and a point or object. The exact definition and reference datum varies according to the context (e.g., aviation, geometr ...

orbits In celestial mechanics, an orbit (also known as orbital revolution) is the curved trajectory of an physical body, object such as the trajectory of a planet around a star, or of a natural satellite around a planet, or of an satellite, artificia ...

. Lynk technology connects to mobile phones on the ground in a way similar to

roaming Roaming is a wireless Wireless communication (or just wireless, when the context allows) is the transfer of information (''telecommunication'') between two or more points without the use of an electrical conductor, optical fiber or oth ...

networks, where the satellite mobile service will connect to another available

cellular network A cellular network or mobile network is a telecommunications network where the link to and from end nodes is wireless network, wireless and the network is distributed over land areas called ''cells'', each served by at least one fixed-locatio ...

when outside the range of its home network. To accomplish the regulatory side of this novel telecommunications method will require that Lynk work through the various geographically dispersed, and often country-specific,

mobile network operator A mobile network operator (MNO), also known as a mobile network provider, mobile network carrier, mobile , wireless service provider, wireless carrier, wireless operator, wireless telco, or cellular company, is a telecommunications provider of se ...

s in any area of the world in which the service is to be available.

Satellites launched

The first Lynk payloads to be tested in space have been flown attached to Cygnus spacecraft following their departure from the ISS. The first was tested on Cygnus NG-10 in February 2019, the second on Cygnus NG-11 in August 2019 and the third on Cygnus NG-12 in January 2020. Those have been followed by two free-flying test satellites, Lynk 04 ''ULTP'' and Lynk 06 ''Shannon'', that have been launched on

Falcon 9 Block 5 Falcon 9 Block 5 is a Reusable launch system#Partial reusable launch systems, partially reusable, human-rating certification, human-rated, two-stage-to-orbit, medium-lift launch vehicle designed and manufactured in the United States by SpaceX. I ...

rockets in March 2020 and June 2021 respectively. The launch of operational satellites, named Lynk Towers, started in April 2022 with 3 satellites launched as of January 2023.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Official website
Communications satellite operators Satellite constellations Satellite telephony Telecommunications companies of the United States

History

Technology

Satellites launched

See also

References

External links