The agreement enables Mobile Network Operators to expand mobile coverage to underserved rural communities without terrestrial cell towers
Brussels – Belgium, 06 Sep 2022 – BICS, an international connectivity enabler, and Lynk Global, Inc., the world’s leading satellite-direct-to-phone telecoms company, have signed an agreement to enable Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to expand mobile coverage to people in remote areas around the world. Coverage areas will include North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, South-East Asia, and several rural areas in Africa. Pairing Lynk’s patented satellite technology and BICS’ network, mobile operators will see network coverage extended to these areas that lack terrestrial cell towers.
“BICS firmly believes that connected communities are stronger communities,” says Mikael Schachne, VP Telco Market at BICS. “With Lynk, we recognized the chance to create something very meaningful and special for our Mobile Network Operators’ partners and their subscribers. This partnership is about building bridges so that more people can connect to and benefit from a connected society than ever before.”
Currently, around 6% of the world’s population lives within the “digital divide”. This means around 450 million people are locked out of digital communications – excluded from all the educational, social and economic advantages that a connected world can offer. Despite advancements, many remote areas still remain largely unconnected because of the costs associated with building and maintaining land-based cell towers. Lynk’s groundbreaking ‘cell tower in space’ technology fixes that by providing a satellite-direct-to-mobile-phone service. By partnering with MNOs, BICS and Lynk aim to connect people who have, until now, lived completely off the grid, otherwise known as 0G.
BICS, the leading provider of mobile data services globally, will leverage its network to pair Lynk’s satellite constellation and the world’s mobile operators. Lynk’s technology allows standard roaming partner integration without any hardware or software changes to the mobile operators’ networks, bringing coverage to remote areas, islands, and even offshore.
“Mobile service is taken for granted by so many people who live in cities and suburbs, but we need to remember that billions of people still experience extended periods of disconnectivity, and hundreds of millions live without any connectivity,” notes Charles Miller, Lynk CEO and co-founder. “Being left out of the digital world creates barriers to economic growth and social improvement — trapping hundreds of millions in the deepest poverty. It also eliminates access to basic emergency services, making life more dangerous. Our partnership with BICS will allow MNOs to affordably expand their coverage and connect more people, saving lives and accelerating economic development for those living in the remotest parts of the world,” Miller continues.
About BICS
As a leading international communications enabler, BICS is connecting the world by creating reliable and secure mobile experiences anytime, anywhere. We are a global voice carrier and the leading provider of mobile data services worldwide. Our solutions are essential for supporting the modern lifestyle of today’s device-hungry consumer – from global mobile connectivity, seamless roaming experiences, fraud prevention and authentication, to global messaging and the Internet of Things. We are headquartered in Brussels, with a strong presence in Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Middle East.
For more information visit www.bics.com and follow our tweets @BICS_SA
About Lynk
In 2022, Lynk will provide the world’s first commercial satellite direct-to-mobile phone service, enabling affordable, reliable mobile phone connectivity to everyone, everywhere across the globe. Founded in 2017 by veteran space and telecoms leaders, the Lynk team invented, patented, and proved that a satellite could serve as a “cell tower in space” and connect directly to a standard mobile phone on Earth – a technological feat verified by independent third parties. Today, Lynk is the only company in the world to have successfully sent text messages to and from space via unmodified mobile devices. By partnering with Lynk, a mobile network operator opens the door to untapped markets, gives subscribers peace of mind with ubiquitous connectivity, and provides a pathway to economic prosperity for billions of the world’s citizens. For more information, visit www.lynk.world and follow @LynkTheWorld
