PLDT’s Smart conducts more Lynk D2D tests in Ilocos Norte

Details: John Tanner; Category: Satellite Networks; 03 March 2026; 6746 views

PLDT's mobile unit Smart Communications said on Monday it has completed another round of field tests with LEO satellite operator Lynk Global for its direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite communication service in northern Ilocos Norte towns facing the West Philippine Sea.

During the field tests, teams exchanged text messages between smartphones located in Metro Manila and the northern coastal municipalities of Burgos, Bangui, and Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte.

The team also successfully accessed public information web sites such as the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), which Smart said highlights the technology’s potential to support public safety, disaster response, and maritime connectivity.

Smart said the field tests reinforce results from earlier tests conducted in January in Barangay Marambong in Pandan, Catanduanes, a remote coastal community where network rollout remains challenging due to terrain and distance.

“Direct to device satellite technology gives PLDT and Smart a powerful way to overcome the geographic challenges of serving an archipelago,” said PLDT COO and network head Menardo G. Jimenez in a statement. “By testing where the technology truly matters, we are taking a step closer to providing reliable connectivity to every Filipino, no matter how remote their location.”

Smart and Lynk said they will continue expanding the scope of their D2D tests across different terrains, regions, coastal communities and maritime routes, while working closely with regulators, industry stakeholders, and local government units to ensure readiness for future deployment.

“As with any emerging technology, there are areas that still need refinement,” said National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) Region I director Glenn Mercado, who observed the Ilocos Norte test. “But given these early results, we are hopeful that as the solution matures, it can be part of measures to extend connectivity to remote and underserved communities.”

Smart officially signed its partnership deal with Lynk in October 2025. Smart’s rival Globe Telecom has been trialling Lynk’s D2D service since October 2024. Smart and Globe are also collaborating with D2D service provider AST Spacemobile under MoUs signed in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Lynk currently has five LEO satellites in orbit, out of a planned constellation of 5,000. The company is currently in the process of merging with rival D2D operator Omnispace. Global satellite giant SES, which has invested in both companies, will be the majority stakeholder in the merged entity.