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

A man walks past an MTN logo outside the company's headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, 13 March 2023. Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo

Mobile operators and smartphone makers are racing to deploy satellite services to close gaps in network coverage.

The call in Vryburg, in the North West province of South Africa, was part of a technical trial that enabled MTN and Lynk Global to test voice-call quality, using a standard smartphone and SMS capabilities over a LEO satellite connection, MTN South Africa chief executive officer Charles Molapisi said.

"The technical trial was part of our work to find potential solutions to the challenges of providing coverage in underserviced, rural and remote areas," he added.

Molapisi said the call showed MTN's ability to complement its ground-based cell towers and other infrastructure with LEO satellite.

The companies received approval from the telecoms regulator ICASA to use radio frequencies on the MTN-licensed spectrum for the trial. They did not elaborate on their next steps.

In November, MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita announced that MTN South Africa was carrying out proof of concepts - showing the feasibility of the plan - with a number of LEO satellite operators for possible partnerships.

LEO satellites provide high-speed internet even in areas where terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure such as fibre and mobile broadband is difficult and expensive to deploy.

MTN's smaller rival Cell C is also seeking similar partnership agreements.

South Africa's biggest operator Vodacom, majority owned by Britain's Vodafone, announced a partnership with Amazon's Project Kuiper LEO satellite in 2023.