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Only a bold satellite operator takes on SpaceX, especially in the nascent race to connect smartphones from space, where Starlink’s rapidly expanding broadband network is pushing for domination.
But Lynk Global’s leaders see an opening for a nimble, capital-efficient contender in a sector that also includes AST SpaceMobile, which is now fully funded to deploy its constellation and is stockpiling satellite spectrum to boost capacity.
Today, Lynk’s low Earth orbit (LEO) network enables intermittent basic messaging and alert services for mobile network operators in a handful of island nations.
In an effort to secure the capital needed to scale the constellation, the Falls Church, Virginia-based venture pursued a merger with Slam Corp., a publicly listed shell company led by former MLB star Alex Rodriguez. But the deal unraveled, sparking a legal dispute before both sides reached an amicable separation.
Freed from those constraints, Lynk is now focused on scaling without the timelines and pressures of going public too soon.
Central to that plan is a multi-orbit partnership with investor SES, the Luxembourg-based company that recently acquired fellow satellite fleet operator Intelsat. The tie-up gives Lynk access to geostationary and medium Earth orbit (GEO and MEO) relay infrastructure, global distribution channels and spectrum resources to speed deployment and unlock new services.
Ramu Potarazu, a former SES executive who took Lynk’s helm a year ago, discussed the company’s push to accelerate toward global service and its strategy for standing out in an increasingly crowded market.
What does cutting ties with Rodriguez’s special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) mean for Lynk’s growth strategy?
The SPAC deal was done for the right reasons at the time, but as we started to expand and bring in strategic partners, we didn’t want to be forced into something that wasn’t natural for the business.
We both decided it was right to separate, and it ultimately ended amicably after the usual legal back-and-forth. It allows us to focus purely on what’s right for the business and be disciplined financially, without unnecessary pressures.
What is the status of your constellation, and how quickly do you plan to scale the network over the next few years?
We’re not a PowerPoint company. We actually have five satellites up there, operating and providing service.
The goal now is to scale this proven technology in a cost-effective way, starting with mobile applications in Phase One.
We’re taking a different approach from others. Our strategy is to be very capital efficient by partnering with the right people.
SES offers geostationary and MEO satellites, worldwide infrastructure and existing [mobile network operator] relationships. That lets us focus our resources on our LEO constellation, while leveraging their orbits for backhaul or relaying data traffic. From our side, we bring an additional service to them for direct-to-device.
We already had close to 51 [mobile network operators] signed globally before we signed the partnership, and now can build and accelerate on that.
When do you expect to achieve global, continuous service now that you can leverage SES?
We’re targeting 2027. That’s much sooner than if we had to build it entirely with LEO satellites.
And what does the SES partnership mean for the deployment of additional LEO satellites?
Firstly, SES is one of our largest investors, so we’re getting financial support from them.
We’re also working on ways to use their global spectrum resources and distribution channels across [mobile network operators] and governments.
And finally, SES has Earth stations and antennas worldwide, which combined with their multi-orbit network means we might not need to deploy as many LEO satellites. That all feeds into our capital-efficient model: putting simple satellites up that address the direct-to-device business for mobile applications.
Are the LEO satellites you were planning in the near-term on hold as you work out this multi-orbit partnership system?
No. We’re finalizing the design phase now, working with international partners to figure out who can help us build this.
We have some internal knowledge [of] how to do it. Our satellites cost a fraction of what others are building, and we’re now looking at how we’re going to scale that.
So when are you next deploying satellites?
Just because all SpaceX launch vehicles have been taken up, we’re next scheduled to launch a couple of satellites in February to verify infrastructure and payload performance, including multi-orbit capability with SES. More launches will follow once we finalize funding plans in the second half of the year.
Now that the SPAC is behind us, we’re putting our full force in looking for funding — we already have lined up our bankers, and now we’re going to go hit the market.
How well-funded is Lynk today?
We’re well capitalized today to go for a couple of years. We’ll need more to complete the constellation. But let me say this, our constellation plan is not in the multi-billions of dollars like others you report on.
Has the SES partnership changed which geographies you’re prioritizing in the near term?
It’s now a global system from day one. Our early focus on island nations was about gaining traction and validating the technology. With SES, we’re addressing mobile applications worldwide.
What differentiates Lynk from AST and SpaceX as they also seek extra satellite spectrum?
Three things: our multi-orbit strategy, reliance on partnerships rather than going it alone and our capital efficiency.
That last point really matters. Starlink has unlimited capital, I don’t think anyone would disagree with that. AST is building very large satellites for a certain use case.
But our capital efficiency translates into better pricing for customers. In Phase One, we’re focused on mobile applications like WhatsApp, banking, Internet of Things (IoT), before moving to heavy broadband in Phase Two probably starting around late 2027, early 2028.
Are you talking to SES about using their satellite spectrum on Lynk satellites?
We’re building our satellites to be spectrum agnostic. We’re starting in a certain frequency but can move up or down as needed. Everyone is looking at partnerships and options in the spectrum space, and we’re no different.
What about the satellites launching in February?
They’re most probably going to also use cellular, UHF band for downlink, but we’re going to be testing appropriate frequencies for relay links with MEO and GEO. We’re going to make sure multi-orbit works.
As mobile operators evaluate multiple satellite-to-cell providers, is it price that would ultimately sway them toward Lynk?
Quality of service is first. We’ve demonstrated ours in the field — we’re not fake news.
Then it’s price and ease of working together. With SES as [a] partner, we’re often going to be building on established relationships, making it seamless for operators to add our service.
Regulation can also make or break players in the market. I gather SES helps there, too?
Tremendously. Having a global partner like SES is a big advantage, as is having [recently appointed] Amy Mehlman on board to lead regulatory efforts.
We’re working closely with regulators for market access and licensing, and we’re also not bypassing the MNOs and their regulatory ecosystem.
What have you learned about where Lynk’s service fits alongside terrestrial networks so far?
The service must not interfere with terrestrial infrastructure. We’re not aiming to operate in dense urban centers where terrestrial coverage is strong. We’re extending coverage where there’s no signal. That means understanding each MNO’s technical ecosystem and adapting to it.
Could satellite spectrum from SES play a role in tackling blackspots in cities, or is that about boosting capacity in rural areas?
It could be both. We need to work with SES on how that spectrum allocation works.
They’re our partners, and we have to work with them very closely to understand how we’re going to work together in these markets.
But to be clear, they have not committed that we’re going to get all this spectrum. We need to evaluate with them.
How do you see the direct-to-device market evolving over the next five years?
This market won’t support 20 players. Let’s say there’s going to be a number one player and that’s Starlink, just because they’re capitalized and they do things differently.
There are going to be three or four other players in this market. We’re differentiating through a mobile-applications-first strategy and multi-orbit partnerships.
Most of the world still doesn’t have 5G, and there’s huge demand for applications that don’t require massive bandwidth.
Do you foresee consolidation?
Yes, eventually. Everyone is approaching the market a little differently, and I’d like to think of us as being a cost-effective solution. I don’t have to go out and build ground infrastructure and do other certain things.
We’re not going to build large infrastructure and satellites that are going to take us three or four years to design and put up. We’re going to be nimble, move where the market’s going and our life cycle is going to be very, very short.
Beyond voice and text, what other applications could Lynk support?
Government is a major growth area, not just in the U.S. but globally. Government use cases are evolving with the technology, and together with SES we’re going to evolve with them.
Lynk’s founders pioneered this space in 2017, before Starlink and others. My role is to turn that innovation into a capital-efficient, revenue-generating business through partnerships and customer-driven evolution. The direct-to-device space is definitely headline news. It’s what everyone wants to get into, but our customers really don’t fully know what they want out of that space. We’re going to work closely to understand how we’re going to evolve.
A lot of people say, here’s my infrastructure, and you evolve with my infrastructure, we’re going to take it the opposite way.
This article first appeared in the September 2025 issue of SpaceNews Magazine with the title “A lean and nimble bid to take on direct-to-device giants.”
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