MTN South Africa and Lynk Global, a LEO satellite provider, have successfully executed Africa’s inaugural satellite-to-mobile phone call. The trial, which took place on Thursday in the North West province, represents a significant advance in extending connectivity to remote regions.
Charles Molapisi, Chief Executive Officer of MTN South Africa, explained: “The call in Vryburg enables MTN and Lynk Global to test voice call quality and SMS capabilities over a LEO satellite connection. 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 emphasized that this call demonstrates MTN’s proof of concept for enhancing its ground-based cell towers and other infrastructure with LEO satellite technology. Typically, LEO satellites orbit Earth at altitudes ranging from 160 km to 2,000 km, which allows for orbital periods between 90 minutes and several hours. This makes them well-suited for applications that require rapid data transmission or frequent revisits to specific areas. Moreover, this technology is device-agnostic, meaning it is compatible with existing mobile units without any need for special modifications.
Molapisi further stated: “The implications of potentially leveraging satellite partnerships will not only help MTN achieve its goal of 99% broadband population coverage, but most importantly benefit all South Africans”.
The reduced altitude of LEO satellites leads to lower signal travel times and decreased latency, which is critical for real-time communications, video conferencing, and online gaming. The growing use of satellite technology has also driven down costs, with the price to launch a 1kg payload into space dropping from approximately US$85,000 per kg in the 1980s to about US$1,000 today.
Dan Dooley, Chief Commercial Officer of Lynk Global, highlighted the significance of the trial by stating, “This marks the first satellite-to-unmodified-mobile phone call made on the African continent”.
Direct satellite-to-phone communication also presents additional advantages, such as the potential to develop mass notification systems for essential alerts, including weather warnings, health advisories, and humanitarian updates.
The trial was conducted in Vryburg, an agricultural town of roughly 21,000 residents, after ICASA granted approval for the use of radio frequencies from MTN’s licensed IMT spectrum for the duration of the experiment. By investigating innovative yet accessible technologies to connect the unconnected, the industry is paving the way toward an ‘always-on’ future where a modern, connected life is within reach for everyone.
