2degrees satellite-to-cell trial with global LEO satellite provider Lynk

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › 2degrees satellite-to-cell trial with global LEO satellite provider Lynk

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DjShadow

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#3084463 3-Jun-2023 18:07

SaltyNZ:

nicks: Perhaps a stupid question, but does this mean eventually if we do a network search we’ll see Lynk (and SpaceX) in addition to 2degrees etc?

Lynk will appear as an available network, yes, but what it calls itself (e.g. does it call itself Lynk, 2degrees, or something else) has not been decided.

Thinking of your contact centre having to troubleshoot issues with this I would call it "2degrees satellite" to make it clear which technology you are hooked up to

timmyh

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#3084464 3-Jun-2023 18:19

freitasm:

Scotdownunder:

I wonder how this will compare with the Starlink based service being offered by OneNZ. Starlink has a massive advantage of hundreds of satellites in orbit while Lynx appear to only have a handful so far. For an emergency only service intermittent service may be acceptable as long as it is automatic, i.e. upload message when satellite is in view but it is clear sub-optimal.

By "being offered" you mean "planned".

It is not active really as per release "SpaceX’s next generation satellites will be in orbit and ready to provide connectivity from late 2024. "

Yes, the SpaceX mobile to satellite service will require an entirely new generation of satellites that are much larger than the ones currently providing broadband service. I wrote a couple of articles over on Bill Bennett's news site, hope it's okay to link to these: https://billbennett.co.nz/mobile-to-satellite-communications-update/

boosacnoodle

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#3084477 3-Jun-2023 19:13

Scotdownunder:

I wonder how this will compare with the Starlink based service being offered by OneNZ. Starlink has a massive advantage of hundreds of satellites in orbit while Lynx appear to only have a handful so far. For an emergency only service intermittent service may be acceptable as long as it is automatic, i.e. upload message when satellite is in view but it is clear sub-optimal.

Except the Starlink satellites with the requisite equipment don’t actually exist yet with none in service. Lynk’s service actually has been demonstrated.

Oblivian

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#3084494 3-Jun-2023 20:38

boosacnoodle:
Except the Starlink satellites with the requisite equipment don’t actually exist yet with none in service. Lynk’s service actually has been demonstrated.

There's been 2 groups of v2 mini - retrofitting ones that fit a F9 fitted with cell gear go up already.
To keep with T-Mobile testing on track.

boosacnoodle

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#3084528 3-Jun-2023 21:16

Oblivian:
boosacnoodle:

Except the Starlink satellites with the requisite equipment don’t actually exist yet with none in service. Lynk’s service actually has been demonstrated.

There's been 2 groups of v2 mini - retrofitting ones that fit a F9 fitted with cell gear go up already.
To keep with T-Mobile testing on track.

Starlink does not have satellite-direct-to-mobile licensing with the FCC (USA). Some other telcos had raised issues with how this might impact on their networks. Lynk appears to have licensing sorted already (in USA). Remains to be seen how this will be approached in NZ and outside of NZ territorial waters - could you have coverage on a boat from NZ-AU for example?

Starlink (as at March) had not yet commenced testing their service and say it will happen "this year". 2degrees has completed their first test with Lynk already.

Curiously, Lynk appears to be a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) service, like Starlink, which means that the possibility for high data speeds exists - albeit, in time. Even more curiously, but perhaps unsurprisingly, they are using SpaceX's satellite platforms for launch.

As it stands, the only company operating a commercially succesful and proven service is Apple / GlobalStar.

freitasm

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#3084529 3-Jun-2023 21:18

The service is different though because limited to specific emergency services and devices.

boosacnoodle

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#3084530 3-Jun-2023 21:21

Oh, absolutely, there's no question about that. It's just that I'm not sure how the commercials can stack up.

It's important to remember that Apple invested some $500m into backing GlobalStar - likely not even close to the true cost. It's not a small feat for Lynk either, especially when they are talking about needing to launch thousands of satellites because it is a LEO service. It's not like they're going to be able to charge $169 a month, like Starlink, for a service that for most people is going to only serve as a back-up when you're outdoors. Even Apple hasn't worked out how they are are going to charge people once their 2-years free is up yet.

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Oblivian

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#3084534 3-Jun-2023 21:42

Was only really chiming in as saying starlink doesn't have anything yet like you had, no longer rings true with them not betting all chips on starship and full V2s now.

However things are indeed now in motion. With lots of squawks from competitors.

https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-proposes-framework-facilitate-supplemental-coverage-space-0

And wasn't apples thing a mutual loan.

freitasm

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#3173547 20-Dec-2023 08:18

Press release:

2degrees has made satellite to mobile technology available to a small group of staff and customers in the Nelson region this week to trial.

The telco has partnered with US satellite company Lynk to enable Kiwis to use their standard mobile phones to connect to ‘cell towers in space’ and get connectivity in remote areas of the country.

2degrees CEO Mark Callander said the trial group includes staff and 2degrees customers – and will let people use the service in real world conditions.

Callander said the service is limited to times when Lynk satellites are passing overhead, and as more satellites are launched, the availability of service will become more frequent.

2degrees started working with Lynk in May this year, and was able to integrate the service into the 2degrees network, sending texts in May, and making a voice call in July.

Callander said 2degrees and Lynk have completed the necessary network integration to make the service work in NZ.

“We know people are really keen to get their hands on this – but the number of satellites in the sky means the service is only available for minutes at a time, and we want this to be longer and have conducted more testing in the wild before we release it widely.

“We’ve always said we’ll keep customers across progress on this technology – which is cutting edge and really exciting – but in its infancy. We now have the next generation of connectivity in the hands of a select group of customers, and they should be able to send and receive messages when out of terrestrial cell coverage.

“Currently, the availability of the service is very limited, which is why we only have a small group of customers in one region currently using it. We had hoped to be further along the path, and have this in more people’s hands, but will wait until more satellites are in the sky and the technology develops, so that connectivity is available more often.

“We want to be clear with customers that we are at the cutting edge here. The service is currently only available in the Nelson region and will only be accessible for small windows of time while a satellite is passing overhead. But, that said, despite the limitations, it’s seriously cool. It’s rocket science – we are sending messages via a cell tower flying at around 27,000kph almost 500km above the earth.”

2degrees customers with an iPhone 14 or 15s can use Apple’s Emergency SOS service. The service allows users to text emergency services when they are off the grid with no mobile and Wi-Fi coverage.

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