Satellite Networks

Lynk and Omnispace merge to form D2D company Elveo

Satellite operators Lynk and Omnispace have merged. The new company will be called Elveo Mobile, and, the partners say, will bring reliable, next-generation connectivity directly from satellites to mobile phones, devices and machines everywhere on Earth in multiple frequency bands.

The Lynk Global and Omnispace merger, announced in October last year, closed on 14 August.

Lynk was founded in 2017 and, according to Light Reading, was the first satellite operator to make a two-way connection between what it called its "cell tower in space" to a standard mobile phone on the ground. It adds that Omnispace began in 2012, initially as a holding company for 2GHz mobile satellite service (MSS) S-band spectrum rights acquired from bankrupt ICO Global, before it started launching its own satellites. 

Elveo says the new company unites two pioneers in direct-to-device (D2D) communications, with a combined 20 years of heritage, globally coordinated high-priority spectrum rights in multiple bands, patented multi-band satellite technology and deep partnerships to close the coverage gap for mobile network operators (MNOs) worldwide.

Elveo's service will work with the eight billion mobile phones and devices people already own. Initial services will have narrowband capabilities for such applications as SMS, WhatsApp and mobile banking; more data-intensive applications will follow.

Elveo will also be optimized for 5G and beyond as well as non-terrestrial networks (NTN), with its own portfolio of spectrum, to enable enhanced services for next-generation devices and address critical coverage gaps for consumer, automotive, IoT and government sectors.

However, despite commercial agreements with more than 50 MNOs and major distribution partners operating in more than 60 countries, a multi-band licensed spectrum footprint, and a number of tests under way, no commercial services are running yet.

The aim is a constellation of 320 LEO satellites (the company has eight LEO and one MEO in orbit so far). This means Elveo is targeting setting up global manufacturing and raising funding to support satellite build and launch, as well as looking into expanding its spectrum rights around the world.

Satellite operator SES, which had a stake in both operators, is expected to provide Elveo access to its MEO and GEO constellations and ground stations as well as, potentially, marketing, sales and manufacturing support.



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