Lynk demonstrates voice calls conducted over its satellites in orbit. Screenshot via Lynk Global

Lynk Global released a video on Tuesday demonstrating two-way voice calls over satellite. In the video, Lynk’s team makes voice calls using unmodified phones, connected via its satellites in orbit. 

The company completed the voice call trials earlier this year, showing calls in the video between its team members in Virginia, and in the United Kingdom. 

“Today’s news goes to the heart of our mission to connect everyone, everywhere,” noted Tyghe Speidel, CTO and co-founder at Lynk. “With initial service now underway in Palau for SMS messaging, and with other countries to follow this year, the Lynk team is thrilled to demonstrate voice call capabilities.”

Speidel said Lynk is prioritizing messaging service for its mobile network operator (MNO) partners, but these voice call results are a step toward the company’s full goals. 

Satellite-to-cell is a fast-moving area of development in the satellite industry. AST SpaceMobile claimed that it made the first voice calls over its demonstration satellite in an announcement earlier this year in April. Apple currently operates an emergency messaging service via satellite using Globalstar’s satellites, which is just a messaging service.