Smart Partners With Lynk Global to Extend Mobile Connectivity via Satellite Starting With SMS

PLDT Head of Network: "When it’s fully rolled out, we think this will transform rural and remote connectivity in the Philippines."

Smart Communications has teamed up with Lynk Global to make mobile communications possible even in areas without signal. The service will use satellites to directly connect to ordinary mobile phones (Direct to Device, or D2D), initially allowing people to send and receive SMS messages and use mobile applications (WhatsApp) even when cell services are unavailable. When the Lynk satellite D2D network is fully rolled out in the next few years, full mobile voice and data connectivity will be available.

The partnership will begin, as the Lynk network deploys, with basic text messaging and mobile applications over LTE, which can help keep communities connected and safe in current out-of-coverage locations as well as during typhoons, earthquakes, and other emergencies.

“This isn't a simple technology play for us,” said Menardo G. Jimenez, PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Head of Network. “We think this will transform lives.”

“We're trying to be there for all Filipinos,” he continued. “Whether they're talking to family abroad, or standing on a rooftop during a flood, requesting assistance. This partnership represents the very core of our purpose as a telco: to improve the lives of Filipinos no matter where they are across the Philippines.”

“To make this happen, Smart and Lynk will run lab tests, set up roaming connections, and conduct field trials before a phased rollout,” explained Radames Zalameda, Head of the Network Strategy and Transformation Office at Smart. “We will begin by linking our core systems and move toward live field testing, using Smart’s spectrum to reach farther areas and prioritizing coastal and mountain barangays and key maritime routes while ensuring that connections are secure, reliable, and stable.”

“We are more than excited to work with Smart to deliver reliable satellite connectivity directly to mobile phones in the Philippines,” said James Alderdice, Lynk Global Vice President for Asia Pacific. “Lynk’s technology is designed to extend mobile coverage everywhere, supporting Smart’s mission to keep communities connected, even when disasters strike.”

Through this partnership, Smart will add a new, disaster-resilient layer to the nation’s mobile network, one that can keep communities connected even when traditional infrastructure is disrupted. This initiative not only advances inclusive connectivity but also reinforces the Philippines’ capacity to respond and recover faster during emergencies, strengthening the network’s reliability for the long term.

Smart’s push to lead in next-generation technologies reflects the PLDT Group’s broader commitment to building a safer, more connected, and more resilient digital nation. These efforts, anchored on innovation and public service, support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and advance the Group’s contribution to the national digital agenda and the country’s overall disaster preparedness and resilience framework.