TPG Telecom has signed a deal with direct-to-phone satellite operator Lynk Global to address gaps in mobile connectivity in rural and remote Australia.
Under the non-exclusive agreement, TPG Telecom will use Lynk Global’s technology to connect standard mobile phones to its constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, with initial tests for text messaging starting in 2025.
TPG Telecom CTO Giovanni Chiarelli noted that the merger will enable the company to bring mobile connectivity to Australia’s hardest-to-reach places, provide remote and rural areas with “much-needed connectivity” and play a critical role in delivering life-saving services.
James Alderdice, Lynk’s Global VP for Asia Pacific, said more than two-thirds of Australia’s landmass had no mobile reception, making “this vast area an ideal target to provide mobile connectivity directly from Lynk’s LEO satellites.”
The company said it has service agreements with more than 40 mobile operators worldwide, including Telstra, Spark New Zealand, 2degrees, Rogers Communications and Turkcell.
Australia-based Optus is partnering with Starlink to provide mobile connectivity via satellite, initially launching with SMS in 2024 before rolling out voice and data services in late 2025.
