Page 90 - SAMENA Trends - March-April 2022

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cybersecurity. Stand-alone 5G networks, with Commercial Solution for Classified warfare. But the effort is actually part of
like the Hughes network, are inherently (CSfC) that has been designed by the Defense Department’s multifaceted 5G
more secure than older networks where NSA.” The new 5G contract is an Other experimentation initiative, called the Next
5G is added onto the existing network,” Transaction Agreement (OTA), issued Generation Information Communications
he said. “Hughes is using a modern Zero through the Information Warfare Research Technology program, that involves
Trust Architecture (ZTA) that provides fine Project (IWRP) consortium of industry and numerous service bases — in this particular
grained authentication and encryption academia, and aimed at helping the Navy case, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
even within the network parameters. The and Marine Corps develop and mature
Hughes architecture is also compatible technologies related to information

Lynk Announces Successful

Deployment of Commercial-
Ready Cell-Tower-in-Space

Lynk Global, Inc., the satellite-direct-to-phone telecoms
company, announced the successful launch, deployment,
and initial on-orbit check-out of Lynk Tower 1. The spacecraft
is the company’s sixth ‘cell-tower-in-space’ satellite and
is now in position to become the commercial cell-tower-
in-space. Lynk Tower 1 is the satellite covered by Lynk’s
application to the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) for a global commercial license to operate a satellite
direct-to-standard-phone service. “With the launch of Lynk
Tower 1, Lynk is positioned to begin commercial service
later this year and provides the true satellite-direct-to-
phone service to citizens across the globe,” says Charles
Miller, CEO and co-founder of Lynk. “For our flagship carrier
partners, news means that we are only months away from
helping them solve the world’s ‘0G Problem’ and enabling
their subscribers to connect everywhere.” The technology in
Lynk Tower 1 is an upgrade of Lynk’s fifth satellite, which
connected to thousands of unique devices in the Fall of
2021, including smartphones, feature phones, and myriad
cellular IoT devices such as cars, trucks, iPads, and John
Deere tractors. Lynk Tower 1 was designed and constructed
at Lynk’s Falls Church, Virginia facilities. It incorporates
significant improvements in power systems, reaction wheels,
star trackers, Ka-band radios, and upgrades to Lynk’s cell
tower base station software stack. These improvements
derive from Lynk’s previous five test flights and are the result
of the company’s in-house ‘rapid-do-learn-loop’ satellite means that 90% of the planet is in “coverage black spots,” otherwise
development process. “Most companies take years to known as “0G”. Over three billion people per year with a mobile phone
design and test new spacecraft concepts. Lynk’s spacecraft experience extended periods of disconnectivity. Another billion people
development process leverages a rapid-do-learn-loop per year refuse to buy their phone because they don’t have mobile
strategy where we quickly iterate and fly new spacecraft coverage where they live and work. 0G is a problem for four billion
technologies several times a year. We learned a ton from our people. The launch of the commercial cell-tower-in-space enables
fifth satellite in late 2021. Those lessons have already been Lynk to begin solving the world’s “0G Problem.” Lynk Towers 2, 3, and 4
implemented in our sixth satellite,” states Tyghe Speidel, CTO are already under construction and will also be launched in 2022. Lynk
and co-founder of Lynk. “Many told us this was impossible. Towers 1-4 will allow millions of mobile phone owners to connect to a
It’s not. This technology is now very real, with three more satellite using a commercial service provided by their mobile network
satellites launching in the next six months as we roll out operator (MNO). Lynk has signed nine contracts with MNOs to date
initial commercial services.” Today, only 10% of the world’s and plans to begin global commercial service in 2022 with a dozen
surface is covered by terrestrial mobile connectivity. This flagship operators.

90 MARCH-APRIL 2022