In the coming together of two of the earliest providers of direct-to-device (D2D) communications, with a combined 20 years of heritage, Lynk Global and Omnispace have revealed the completion of their merger with the creation of Elveo.
As it begins operations, Elveo has announced a strategic partnership with Tata Group-owned satellite communication service provider Nelco to bring D2D and internet of things (IoT) connectivity to South Asian markets, as well as with the broader Tata Group for companies across the globe.
Between them, Lynk Global and Omnispace own globally coordinated spectrum rights in multiple bands, patented multi-band satellite technology and deep partnerships that they said can close the coverage gap for mobile network operators (MNOs) worldwide. Lynk and Omnispace’s current investors include SES, Fortress, Stepstone, Columbia Capital, Telcom Ventures and Blazar Ventures.
Fundamentally, Elveo Mobile will aim to deliver mobile connectivity and elevated intelligence “for a planet on the move”, bringing connectivity directly from satellites to mobile phones, devices and machines globally in multiple frequency bands.
They said this will offer reliable, next-generation connectivity directly from satellites to smartphones, IoT devices and machines worldwide. Moreover, Elveo said that it will work as a “globally inclusive” company that offers mobile network operators and partners a resilient, always-on next-generation network to connect their customers across enterprise, government and humanitarian sectors.
The company will combine complementary spectrum, patented technology and relationships with over 50 mobile network operators across more than 60 countries, representing in excess of a billion mobile subscribers.
From a technological basis, the Elveo network will feature advanced “elevated intelligence”, which includes on-board processing and networking designed to adapt, iterate and grow rapidly. The service is optimised for 5G and beyond, as well as non-terrestrial networks (NTN), with its own portfolio of spectrum, to enable enhanced services for next-generation devices and address critical coverage gaps for consumer, automotive, IoT and government sectors.
It will also offer backward-compatible D2D compatibility for all eight billion smartphones people already own, including 2G and 4G devices, with Elveo’s network attributed with being able to bridge coverage gaps as an affordable and alternate solution for MNOs.
“We’re delivering a fundamental shift in communications by connecting ‘elevated intelligence’ directly from our network in space to mobile devices around the world,” said Elveo chief executive officer Ramu Potarazu. “The Elveo network will be able to process and adapt on orbit, enabling global interconnectivity, voice and data services, and compute power to mobile users.”
The partnership with Nelco is designed to being connectivity and compute solutions directly from Elveo’s satellites in space to varied sectors, including automotive, maritime, energy and government in India and South Asian markets.
Nelco said that it will work with enterprises in all segments to integrate the Elveo connectivity solutions across its various platforms. Confident that they can offer real-time connectivity and compute capabilities, Nelco and Elveo will look to close the coverage gap for wide ranging enterprise-grade solutions, including automotive telematics, fleet and asset tracking, infrastructure monitoring remote operations, disaster response and business continuity.
P J Nath, managing director and CEO of Nelco, added: “D2D is the next growth wave for the Satcom market globally and Nelco is embarking on it. Elveo’s advanced network design opens up seamless coverage and new market opportunities for us in India, as well as South Asian countries and worldwide for some of the enterprise segments.
“We’re particularly impressed by Elveo’s satellite technology including its advanced on-board processing designed to adapt, iterate and scale with evolving customer needs.”
