Washington, DC-based satellite operator Lynk Global has introduced an “initial” direct-to-device service in the Soloman Islands. The service is being offered in collaboration with bmobile, the telecommunications company serving the islands with a population of approximately 70,000.

The first phase of the service will focus on SMS and text messages. Subscribers of bmobile will be able to utilize their existing mobile phones to send and receive messages in Makira, one of the nine provinces of the country. This will be made possible by connecting to Lynk’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation.

Dan Dooley, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Lynk, mentioned that bmobile plans to extend the service to cover the entire island nation by 2024 as Lynk continues to launch more satellites. It is important to note that approximately 75% of the population resides in smaller villages outside the urban areas.

Currently, Lynk operates three satellites and has plans to launch three more by the end of this year. The company’s long-term goal is to provide global coverage with a constellation of 5,000 satellites.

By offering a direct-to-device service, Lynk Global aims to bridge connectivity gaps and provide communication access to individuals in remote areas. This initiative in the Soloman Islands marks an important step towards achieving their vision of global coverage.