MTN, Lynk make Africa’s first satellite voice call using smartphone

MTN, Lynk make Africa’s first satellite voice call using smartphone

The SA unit of MTN Group and American low-earth orbit satellite provider Lynk Global said on Thursday they had made Africa's first phone call via satellite, a potential solution to providing coverage in underserviced and rural areas.

Yesterday’s Rivals, Today’s Allies

Two telecom giants, MTN and Airtel, have battled for Nigeria’s telecom crown for years, investing money into improving their networks and upgrading their services.But the Naira’s freefall has hit both hard, with MTN Nigeria losing ₦400 billion ($250 million) last year and Airtel’s revenue plunging 40.3%, according to its 2024 earnings report. Now, they've both signed a deal to share infrastructure in Nigeria and Uganda, cutting costs while expan…

MTN makes Africa’s first sattelite call with smartphone

MTN South Africa has completed Africa’s first satellite phone call using a standard smartphone, marking a key step toward expanding mobile coverage in underserved regions.

MTN SA and Lynk Global Trial Africa’s First Satellite-to-Phone Service - Space in Africa

MTN South Africa and LEO satellite provider Lynk Global successfully conducted Africa’s first satellite-to-mobile device phone call during a technical […] The post MTN SA and Lynk Global Trial Africa’s First Satellite-to-Phone Service appeared first on Space in Africa.

MTN, Lynk Global Make History with Direct Satellite-to-Smartphone Call - Tech

MTN South Africa and American satellite provider Lynk Global have successfully made Africa’s first direct satellite-to-mobile phone call.  This could bolster connectivity in remote and underserved areas, providing an alternative to traditional network infrastructure. The test call was conducted in Vryburg, North West province, using a standard smartphone. MTN South Africa’s CEO, Charles Molapisi, described the trial as a necessary step in expand…

MTN successfully tests Africa’s first direct-to-satellite voice call, rivals Elon Musk’s Starlink

MTN South Africa has revealed that it has successfully trialled Africa's first direct-to-satellite voice calls and SMS in partnership with Lynk, an American firm.