Space startup Lynk says that they have managed to connect ordinary mobiles through their satellite service, reports Ars Technica.
Lynk’s one-square-meter Shannon satellite was launched into orbit three months ago aboard one of the Spacex Falcon 9 rockets. According to the company, after some initial tests, it should have been possible for hundreds of mobile phones in the US, UK and Bahamas to connect via satellite when it passed. A bit like there was a virtual mobile mast in space.
Other space connection services, such as Spacex Starlink, have instead sent the signal from space to a station on the ground and then to the user. In Lynk’s case, no terminal or even any software is needed.
The idea is that Lynk will initially be able to offer connection when other mobile operators do not. For example, abroad or in disaster areas. To begin with, Lynk will only offer its users the opportunity to send text messages.
The startup plans to launch another 10 satellites in 2022 so that they can offer coverage to the majority of the earth at intervals of a few hours. By 2023, the target is 100 satellites and coverage is available every five to twenty minutes. For uninterrupted coverage, Lynk estimates that 1,500 satellites will be needed.
Also read: Now Oneweb’s satellite internet is coming to Sweden – “a flying mobile network”
– .
