What if your phone could connect anywhere on Earth – no new device, no extra setup? In episode 13 of the Satellite World Briefing, “How Cell Towers in Space are Transforming Connectivity,” host Lucas Hunsicker discussed the breakthrough behind mobile connectivity from space with Dan Dooley, Chief Commercial Officer at Lynk Global, and Gerry Collins, Director of Product Management at Intelsat.
Bridging Connectivity Gaps
The episode opens with looking at Intelsat’s investment in Lynk Global, whose Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites act as cell towers in the sky. These satellites use mobile network operators’ (MNOs) existing spectrum to connect directly to mobile phones without any modifications. According to Dooley, Lynk’s mission is “magical.” “At the heart of what Lynk is, we are builders of cell towers in space, allowing MNOs and governments to connect spectrum and provide connectivity to their existing subscribers in places that never had it before.”
This strategy is a perfect fit for Intelsat’s broader vision. “Only by combining non-terrestrial—i.e. satellite—together with terrestrial can you reach the goals of ubiquitous and global connectivity,” Collins said.
Reimagining Mobile Connectivity
The concept of connecting a regular mobile device straight to a satellite wasn’t always popular. Back in 2017, the majority of experts didn’t think it was possible. “People thought that was a crazy… idea,” Dooley recalled. “You need a special antenna. You can’t do it.”
However, the regenerative payload architecture Lynk utilizes makes it possible for phones to communicate directly with their satellites. As Dooley put it, “The satellite is a base station in the sky. It’s a cell tower in space.” This architecture not only made the connection technically feasible, but it also made it scalable.
Simple and Seamless for Users and Networks
One of Lynk’s key innovations is the fact that it doesn’t require changes to devices or mobile networks. When they (MNOs) ask about it, they’ll ask, “What equipment do I need to bring? What antennas do I need to bring?’ And we say, ‘No, just bring your phone… and we’ll be able to connect it,” says Dooley. All that’s needed is a roaming agreement with the MNO, similar to when a user connects to a local partner’s network while traveling abroad. This ease of use is crucial for adoption, as Collins said, “If you make it easy for the end user, you’ve already gone a long way toward solving the problem.” MNOs can quickly extend coverage to remote locations without deploying new infrastructure because Lynk functions as a roaming partner utilizing the existing terrestrial spectrum.
From Messaging to Full-Service Mobile
IoT support, text messaging, and basic voice are just a few of Lynk’s current services. The long-term goal is full-featured mobile service from orbit. Dooley said, “The end point is that no matter where you are in the world, you are able to turn on your mobile phone or your device and have it work, just like you’re in downtown London or Washington, D.C.”
To get there, Lynk is building a multi-orbit, multi-spectrum, and multi-beam architecture that allows for greater capacity and flexibility. Over time, more satellites in orbit will enable broader and more bandwidth-intensive services, everything from voice to video streaming.
Why 2G Still Matters
Dooley stressed that 2G is still essential for billions of users and devices, even as the industry talks about 5G and beyond. “We’re still the only satellite provider who’s also supporting 2G,” he said. “There’s quite a bit of the world that’s 2G and is going to be 2G for a while.”
In markets like Canada, Lynk is helping partners like Rogers maintain service for legacy devices in agricultural and transportation. Dooley explained, “There’s a million … tractors in Alberta. You’re not going to bring those tractors in to get a 4G chipset.” This allows them to continue working without replacing equipment.
More importantly, 2G is often the first connection someone ever has. As Collins said, “The biggest way to transform someone’s life is to give them a 2G phone from zero G connectivity. Everything that follows—3G, 4G, 5G—is an incremental improvement. The real transformation happens the moment someone connects for the first time on 2G. Everything after that builds on it.”
From Vision to Reality
As the podcast wraps up, Dooley and Collins reflected on what’s to come. Dooley shared a vision where satellite and terrestrial networks are fully integrated to provide seamless service everywhere. “There is a journey. There’s a future where you’ll want to use other MSS spectrum to gain more bandwidth, smaller beams, and greater capacity—enabling newer devices to connect. That, eventually, will be how people, like those on small islands, get everything they need.”
For Intelsat and Lynk, this partnership is just the beginning of that journey.
Listen to the full podcast episode now.
