Globe and Lynk Global have successfully conducted the country’s first voice call using a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite directly to a standard, unmodified mobile phone, marking a major step toward expanding communications in off-grid areas.
The live demonstration took place in Bagac, Bataan, a rural municipality with no terrestrial network. The positive results underscore the potential of satellite connectivity to close coverage gaps in geographically isolated, underserved, and disaster-prone communities.
“Globe revolutionizes connectivity by bringing nextwave solutions to the remotest areas, allowing families to be closer than ever. This will bridge the digital gap while supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by providing innovative direct to device service in the hand of every Filipino,” said Gerhard Tan, Senior Director and Head of Technology Strategy and Innovations at Globe.
The pilot trial was made possible through Globe’s partnership with Lynk Global, a leader in direct to device (D2D) connectivity. Lynk Global provides “cell towers in space” through a constellation of LEO satellites.
Lynk Chief Commercial Officer Daniel Dooley said, “This voice demonstration was a huge success and a foundation for our continued work with Globe in the Philippines. Together we will connect unconnected communities in rural areas, remote islands and maritime zones and will ensure that the broader Filipino population has connectivity in times of need when the terrestrial networks are down.”
The satellites connect directly to existing mobile phones without requiring hardware or software modifications, enabling access in places beyond the reach of traditional networks.
The voice service trial was held during scheduled satellite passes, which occur two to three times a day and last about four minutes. Lynk SIMs were used to connect to the GSM-based Lynk network for real-time communication on standard mobile devices. Lynk continues to launch satellites to provide continuous service.
Despite adverse weather, including heavy rain, the team completed both Mobile-Originated and Mobile-Terminated calls with clear and stable audio quality, showing the system’s reliability.
Devices also received welcome text messages and successfully registered with the Lynk network during visibility windows.
The demonstration sets the stage for future enhancements, including the potential rollout of Voice over LTE (VoLTE) over satellite for improved efficiency and call clarity.
This milestone reinforces Globe’s commitment to digital inclusion and innovation, ensuring that even the most remote and vulnerable communities in the Philippines are within reach of reliable mobile connectivity.
