Smart, Lynk test satellite-to-phone emergency alerts in Batangas

• Contributed photo

Smart Communications and satellite communications company Lynk Global have expanded their direct-to-device satellite tests to Batangas, focusing on connectivity during disasters and network outages.

The companies simulated emergencies in which terrestrial infrastructure had been temporarily disrupted. According to Smart, the tests demonstrated that satellite-enabled cell broadcasts could transmit emergency alerts and public safety messages directly to compatible mobile phones in affected communities.

Direct-to-device technology connects satellites with standard mobile phones without requiring users to carry a dedicated satellite handset. This could provide a backup communications channel when cell towers are unavailable because of typhoons, power failures or other emergencies.

Smart and Lynk are also testing two-way services, including the ability to send SMS messages outside terrestrial network coverage. Potential applications include connecting rural and underserved communities, people travelling at sea, and fishers operating in maritime areas.

“Reliable communication is essential in times of crisis,” PLDT Chief Operating Officer and Network Head Menardo Jimenez Jr. said. He added that the company was investing in technologies intended to keep critical information flowing during emergencies.

The Batangas activity follows earlier Smart and Lynk trials in Catanduanes and Ilocos Norte. Those tests similarly examined whether satellite services could supplement existing telecommunications infrastructure in remote or hard-to-reach locations.

Smart did not disclose the number of devices involved in the Batangas tests, the satellites used, or a timetable for making the service commercially available. The trials remain part of PLDT and Smart’s evaluation of satellite connectivity as a backup for public safety communications and disaster response.