Listen: Lynk Global on making direct-to-device accessible to all

Satellite-to-cellphone connectivity provider Lynk Global last month announced a strategic partnership with Internet of Things provider Emnify to expand IoT services in offshore locations. The value of the agreement was not disclosed.

Charles Miller, co-founder and chief executive officer at Falls Church, Va.-based Lynk Global, joins Connectivity Business News’ podcast, “The Dish,” to discuss the deal and what’s being done to make IoT and satellite direct-to-device services more accessible.

“A lot of other IoT companies have a big problem: If you want to do IoT everywhere, it’s extremely expensive, but if you want to do IoT where existing mobile cell towers already exist, it’s actually really cheap,” Miller said. “You can actually have a device that has a radio frequency cellular chip, the same chip that’s in every phone,” he said.

The service is expected to be available this year.

Lynk is planning a constellation of 5,000 satellites, having deployed its first commercial satellite a year ago. The company is planning more launches this year and is looking to ramp up production next year, according to Miller. Lynk received a waiver for its direct-to-device services from the Federal Communications Commission, which in February announced a new regulatory framework to support integration between satellite and terrestrial networks.

Tune into “The Dish” to learn more about the Emnify deal, the FCC’s proposal and how Lynk is scaling up its direct-to-device services in 2023 and beyond.