MTN South Africa and American satellite provider Lynk Global have successfully made Africa’s first direct satellite-to-mobile phone call.
This could bolster connectivity in remote and underserved areas, providing an alternative to traditional network infrastructure.
The test call was conducted in Vryburg, North West province, using a standard smartphone. MTN South Africa’s CEO, Charles Molapisi, described the trial as a necessary step in expanding network coverage beyond the reach of conventional cell towers.
“The technical trial was part of our work to find potential solutions to the challenges of providing coverage in underserviced, rural, and remote areas,” he said.
MTN and Lynk Global secured approval from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to use radio frequencies on MTN’s licensed spectrum for this trial. While specific details on future plans remain undisclosed, this success points to a move toward integrating satellite technology into mainstream telecom services.
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites operate at altitudes between 160 km and 2,000 km, ensuring lower latency and faster communication. Unlike traditional satellite networks, which require specialised hardware, this technology enables direct mobile-to-satellite connections using regular smartphones.
The repercussions are wide, rural communities, disaster-stricken regions, and areas with poor terrestrial infrastructure could soon enjoy seamless mobile connectivity.
MTN isn’t alone in exploring this technology. Vodacom, South Africa’s largest mobile operator, has already partnered with Amazon’s Project Kuiper, while Cell C is also seeking similar collaborations. Globally, companies like Starlink, OneWeb, and AST SpaceMobile are racing to refine their satellite-to-mobile services.
In integrating satellite technology, MTN aims to strengthen its existing infrastructure, ensuring more comprehensive network coverage. “This marks the first satellite-to-unmodified-mobile phone call made on the African continent,” said Dan Dooley, chief commercial officer at Lynk Global.
The ability to provide mobile services without additional hardware requirements sets this innovation apart from conventional satellite solutions.
