BICS and Lynk sign agreement for improved mobile coverage
BICS, a communications firm, has signed an agreement with satellite-direct-to-phone telecoms company Lynk to allow Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to expand mobile coverage to remote rural areas.
The coverage areas will include North America, the Caribbean, Latin America, South-East Asia, and several rural areas in Africa.
“BICS firmly believes that connected communities are stronger communities. With Lynk, we recognised the chance to create something very meaningful and special for our Mobile Network Operators’ partners and their subscribers. This partnership is about building bridges so that more people can connect to and benefit from a connected society than ever before,” says Mikael Schachne, VP Telco Market at BICS.
Providing mobile services for remote parts of the world
Together with Lynk’s patented satellite technology and BICS’ network, mobile operators will see network coverage extended to these areas that lack terrestrial cell towers.
According to the company, Lynk’s technology allows standard roaming partner integration without any hardware or software changes to the mobile operators’ networks, bringing coverage to remote areas, islands, and even offshore.
According to stats, currently around 6% of the world’s population lives within the “digital divide”. This means around 450 million people are locked out of digital communications. Despite advancements, many remote areas still remain largely unconnected because of the costs associated with building and maintaining land-based cell towers.
“Mobile service is taken for granted by so many people who live in cities and suburbs, but we need to remember that billions of people still experience extended periods of disconnectivity, and hundreds of millions live without any connectivity. Being left out of the digital world creates barriers to economic growth and social improvement — trapping hundreds of millions in the deepest poverty. It also eliminates access to basic emergency services, making life more dangerous. Our partnership with BICS will allow MNOs to affordably expand their coverage and connect more people, saving lives and accelerating economic development for those living in the remotest parts of the world,” said Charles Miller, Lynk CEO and co-founder.
