Telecommunications giant Globe Telecom Inc. has cleared another hurdle in its plan to integrate satellites into its network to serve remote communities, following the successful trial of the country’s first satellite-to-phone voice call.

Globe said it recently completed a trial to test the feasibility of a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite in expanding communications in off-grid areas.

With its partner, American satellite-direct-to-device (D2D) provider Lynk Global, the telco tested its capacity in a rural municipality in Bagac, Bataan, where no terrestrial network exists.

The voice service trial was conducted during scheduled satellite passes, which occur two to three times daily and last approximately four minutes.

Despite the adverse weather, the test confirmed that a standard mobile phone can make calls using LEO satellites, with clear and stable audio quality.

Globe said the positive results underscore the potential of satellite connectivity to close coverage gaps in geographically isolated, underserved, and disaster-prone communities.

The LEO satellites of Lynk can connect directly to mobile phones without requiring hardware or software modifications, enabling access in places outside the reach of traditional networks.

Lynk Chief Commercial Officer Daniel Dooley said this demonstration affirms the potential of the space-based technology to reliably serve Globe’s customers.

Dooley said this will ensure that unconnected communities and the broader Filipino population will have connectivity in times of need when the terrestrial networks are down.

He said Lynk will continue to launch LEO satellites to provide continuous service.

Gerhard Tan, senior director and head of technology strategy and innovations at Globe, said the use of satellites is the company’s latest measure to bring connectivity to remote communities.

This year, Globe is targeting to build 100 new cell sites in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).

It would bring the telco’s cell sites in GIDAS to 700, ensuring that high-speed internet is accessible to every Filipino.

Following the successful trial of a satellite-to-phone voice call, Tan said the telco plans to roll out Voice over LTE (VoLTE) over satellite for improved efficiency and call clarity.