Author Topic: Lynk Global (formerly Ubiquitilink) (Read 57419 times)

Danderman · « **Reply #100 on:** 08/31/2022 04:23 am »

https://www.nsr.com/finally-spacex-joining-the-direct-satellite-to-device-race/

Danderman · « **Reply #101 on:** 09/02/2022 12:39 am »

https://payloadspace.com/starlink-mobile-play-validates-lynks-strategy-says-ceo/

gongora · « **Reply #102 on:** 09/02/2022 01:06 am »

A couple filings I ran across on the FCC site from earlier in the year with stuff like status and coexistence with the terrestrial networks.

su27k · « **Reply #103 on:** 09/07/2022 03:56 am »

https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/1567085875212783618

Quote

.@LynkTheWorld: @SpaceX-@TMobile, @apple-@Globalstar, @AST_SpaceMobile imminent launch, @Huawei's ambitions: It's all good for us. Now we need our @FCC license. https://bit.ly/3RHq9SD

gongora · « **Reply #104 on:** 09/16/2022 09:28 pm »

FCC Grants Lynk First-Ever License for Commercial Satellite-Direct-to-Standard-Mobile-Phone Service

Approval accelerates Lynk’s plans to provide universal mobile service later this year

Falls Church, VA – September 16, 2022 – Lynk Global, Inc. (Lynk), the world’s leading satellite-direct-to-standard-phone telecoms company, today expressed its appreciation to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for granting Lynk the world's first-ever commercial license for a satellite-direct-to-standard-mobile-phone service. This FCC license enables Lynk to launch commercial services for its global constellation of satellites later this year, paving the way for universal mobile connectivity.

Margo Deckard, COO and co-founder of Lynk, said, “The FCC is the gold standard of telecommunication regulators. They have deep technical knowledge and conducted a rigorous review process, which validates that Lynk’s first-of-its-kind satellite-direct-to-standard-mobile-phone service is ready to be deployed globally.” Deckard added, “We applaud the FCC and its staff for using their smallsat rules to accelerate innovation in space. We are honored to receive the very first commercial license for the world’s first true satellite-direct-to-standard-mobile-phone service from such a credible and respected regulator.”

Lynk launched Lynk Tower 1, the first satellite covered by the FCC license, on April 1. Lynk is scheduled to launch three more satellites — also known as Lynk Towers 2, 3 and 4 and Lynk’s 7th, 8th, and 9th cell-towers-in-space — later this year as the company advances toward deploying its global service. Lynk has signed contracts with 15 mobile network operators (MNOs) in 36 countries representing over 240M mobile subscribers, and is actively testing in 10 countries.

Today, only 10% of the world’s surface is covered by terrestrial mobile connectivity. This means that 90% of the planet is in “coverage black spots,” otherwise known as “0G”. 0G is a problem for four billion people. Over three billion people per year with a mobile phone experience extended periods of disconnectivity. Another billion people per year will buy their first phone when there is affordable mobile coverage where they live and work.

This FCC license will also allow Lynk to provide emergency communication services to help people recover from disasters and will save lives. Earlier this year, the volcanic eruption in Tonga demonstrated, as have so many other events, the need for a global “instant backup” system to ensure mobile connectivity, no matter what. Lynk’s satellite cell towers are not affected by tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, blizzards, tornados, or other effects that can damage ground-based cell towers.

Steve Case, Chairman of Revolution (Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund is an investor in Lynk) and Co-Founder of America Online (AOL) stated, “Having co-founded America Online, I understand and support Lynk’s mission to connect everyone on Earth via its satellite-direct-to-cell-phone service. With the FCC approval of the world’s first commercial satellite-direct-to-phone license, Lynk is one major step closer to achieving its goals. Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund is proud to back a business that recognizes the value in connecting the 8 billion people on this planet — from both a business and global safety perspective.”

“Technologies such as Lynk's satellite-direct-to-standard-mobile-phone service are an important part of the evolving mobile ecosystem and will be essential in enabling coverage in underserved geographies,” said Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer, GSMA. “Working in close collaboration with mobile network operators, Lynk’s satellite services will support the goal of ubiquitous connectivity for the benefit of society and business worldwide.”

“Mongolia’s telecommunication sector faces a unique challenge as the country is one of the most sparsely populated in the world. From mountain ranges to steppe prairies, from the Gobi Desert to northern taigas, thousands of nomads live in the Mongolian countryside, and they all require constant and reliable connectivity to the world. Thus far, we have increased our mobile and 4G LTE network coverage to over 80% of the population, which makes Unitel Group the leading telecommunications service provider in Mongolia,” says Bat-Erdene.G, CTO of Unitel Group. “The FCC approval of Lynk’s commercial system marks an important step to enable Unitel Group to expand our efforts in providing the best connectivity to our customers no matter where they are in Mongolia,” he continues.

gongora · « **Reply #105 on:** 09/16/2022 09:49 pm »

This initial license is for 10 satellites serving customers outside of the United States using certain UHF frequencies (617-960MHz) to connect with the cellular devices (TT&C and gateway connections are in other frequencies).

Robotbeat · « **Reply #106 on:** 09/17/2022 12:44 am »

Sweet. These direct-to-mobile services are super important for expanding the space economy, plus remote parts of Earth.

su27k · « **Reply #107 on:** 09/19/2022 04:21 am »

I'm confused by the claim that this is "world's first-ever commercial license for a satellite-direct-to-standard-mobile-phone service", I thought both Lynk and AST Spacemobile has already have approval from other (unspecified) countries for providing this service in those countries?

Asteroza · « **Reply #108 on:** 09/19/2022 07:25 am »

Quote from: su27k on 09/19/2022 04:21 am

I'm confused by the claim that this is "world's first-ever commercial license for a satellite-direct-to-standard-mobile-phone service", I thought both Lynk and AST Spacemobile has already have approval from other (unspecified) countries for providing this service in those countries?

If I remember correctly, Spacemobile has to borrow MNO frequencies, while Lynk is predicated on having their own?

Quote from: gongora on 09/16/2022 09:49 pm

This initial license is for 10 satellites serving customers outside of the United States using certain UHF frequencies (617-960MHz) to connect with the cellular devices (TT&C and gateway connections are in other frequencies).

I was under the impression that their minimum IoT constellation was 26 sats though?

gongora · « **Reply #109 on:** 09/19/2022 05:26 pm »

SpaceMobile and Lynk both use MNO frequencies.

Lynk decided to use the new small sat expedited licensing process for their first license, which is limited to 10 sats per license. A company can get multiple licenses that way, but 10 sats at a time. It would probably make sense for them to eventually use the normal licensing process for however many sats they need.

su27k · « **Reply #110 on:** 09/21/2022 01:36 am »

Quote from: su27k on 09/19/2022 04:21 am

I'm confused by the claim that this is "world's first-ever commercial license for a satellite-direct-to-standard-mobile-phone service", I thought both Lynk and AST Spacemobile has already have approval from other (unspecified) countries for providing this service in those countries?

To answer my own question, based on this SpaceNews article, it seems they only have experimental license in other countries:

Quote from: SpaceNews

However, Lynk has not yet secured landing rights in any country where it plans to provide services.

The Virginia-based startup currently has licenses that enable it to test its planned services in 18 countries, including the United States, Lynk CEO Charles Miller told SpaceNews.

However this FCC license doesn't give them landing right in the US either, so seems to me regulatory wise there's still some work to do.

gongora · « **Reply #111 on:** 09/21/2022 01:44 am »

It's a novel use of the spectrum, they definitely have some regulatory work to get through. AST is dealing with the same thing.

su27k · « **Reply #112 on:** 09/29/2022 02:17 am »

Lynk Global to deploy experimental 5G payload in December

Quote from: SpaceNews

Lynk Global said Sept. 28 it will test the ability to send a 5G signal from a satellite launching in December to standard mobile devices, after getting funding for the demonstration from an undisclosed partner.

The experimental 5G payload will be onboard its second commercial satellite, which SpaceX is slated to fly on a Falcon 9 rocket as part of its Transporter 6 rideshare mission.

Two other Lynk satellites are also due to fly on this mission to give the Virginia-based startup four commercial satellites in low Earth orbit.

Lynk’s initial satellites are designed to provide connectivity for its mobile network operator (MNO) partners’ customers over 2G to 4G.

Danderman · « **Reply #113 on:** 11/02/2022 07:21 pm »

https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2021/09/23/aliv-telecel-centrafrique-ink-deals-with-cell-tower-in-space-firm-lynk/

ALIV, Telecel Centrafrique ink deals with ‘cell-tower-in-space’ firm Lynk

su27k · « **Reply #114 on:** 11/30/2022 02:28 am »

https://twitter.com/LynkTheWorld/status/1597621814233993216

Quote

Thrilled to be testing in #Australia with our partner @Optus. As one of Australia's largest telecoms companies, they've now experienced @LynkTheWorld's forthcoming #ubiquitious connectivity across the country's vast landmass via Lynk's LEO satellites: https://optus.com.au/connected/leaders-insights/leo-satellite-to-mobile-technology

Danderman · « **Reply #115 on:** 01/04/2023 04:17 pm »

Lynk had 2 payloads on the Transporter 6 launch.

Danderman · « **Reply #116 on:** 01/11/2023 04:20 pm »

https://lynk.world/lynk-launches-worlds-2nd-and-3rd-commercial-cell-towers-in-space

Lynk now has an additional 2 cell towers in orbit.

su27k · « **Reply #117 on:** 01/28/2023 02:13 am »

Lynk Global finalizing ground station for direct-to-smartphone services

Quote from: SpaceNews

Lynk Global is close to completing a ground station in Hawaii as part of plans to connect its growing constellation of small satellites to standard smartphones this spring.

The Ka-band ground station is needed to route cellular signals Lynk’s satellites pick up from low Earth orbit (LEO) back to a mobile operator partner’s terrestrial network.

It is the first of dozens of ground stations the venture plans to deploy worldwide to reduce latency and improve the resiliency of its network, which would enable telcos to keep customers connected outside cellular coverage.

Danderman · « **Reply #118 on:** 03/13/2023 11:38 pm »

https://www.dawnaerospace.com/latest-news/lynk-selects-dawn-aerospace-propulsion-following-an-extensive-industry-trade-study

gongora · « **Reply #119 on:** 03/14/2023 02:28 am »

https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1635296332968792066

Quote

Miller: "If you can't get the cost of the satellite down, when you're mass producing, to well under $1 million then you're in trouble."

"Lynk marginal cost per satellite we have in orbit today is under $200,000"