MTN South Africa and Lynk Global Achieve Africa’s First Satellite-to-Mobile Phone Call

MTN South Africa, in partnership with LEO satellite provider Lynk Global, has successfully conducted Africa’s first satellite-to-mobile phone call. The trial took place in the North West province of Vryburg, marking a significant step toward enhancing connectivity in remote and underserved areas.

The test call allowed MTN and Lynk Global to evaluate voice call quality and SMS capabilities over a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connection. According to MTN South Africa CEO Charles Molapisi, the trial serves as proof of concept for integrating satellite technology with MTN’s existing terrestrial network, ensuring broader coverage beyond traditional cell towers.

LEO satellites, which orbit at altitudes between 160 km and 2,000 km, offer reduced signal travel times and lower latency, making them ideal for real-time communication, video conferencing, and online gaming. Their ability to provide direct connectivity to unmodified mobile phones eliminates the need for specialized equipment, making the technology more accessible to the general population.

Molapisi emphasized that leveraging satellite partnerships will help MTN move closer to its goal of achieving 99% broadband population coverage, ultimately benefiting millions of South Africans. The reduced cost of satellite deployment has also made such advancements more viable, with the cost of launching a 1kg payload into space dropping from $85,000 in the 1980s to around $1,000 today.

Lynk Global’s Chief Commercial Officer, Dan Dooley, highlighted the success of the trial as a milestone in global connectivity, demonstrating the effectiveness of their technology in enabling communication anywhere in the world. The capability of direct satellite-to-phone connections also paves the way for mass notification systems, which could be crucial for delivering emergency alerts, weather warnings, and humanitarian updates.

Vryburg, a town with a population of approximately 21,000, was selected for the trial following approval from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to use MTN-licensed IMT spectrum for the test period.

As the telecommunications industry continues to explore innovative solutions for bridging the digital divide, satellite-based mobile connectivity promises to create an “always-on” future where even the most remote regions have access to reliable communication services.