Globe’s satellite voice trial clears

Telecommunications giant Globe Telecom Inc. has cleared another hurdle in its plan to integrate satellites into its network to serve remote communities, following the successful trial of the country’s first satellite-to-phone voice call.

- By DEXTER BARRO II

Globe said it recently completed a trial to test the feasibility of a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite in expanding communications in off-grid areas.

With its partner, American satellite-direct-to-device (D2D) provider Lynk Global, the telco tested its capacity in a rural municipality in Bagac, Bataan, where no terrestrial network exists.

The voice service trial was conducted during scheduled satellite passes, which occur two to three times daily and last approximately four minutes.