Telecom09/24/2026@TechDesk
Smart and Lynk Send Texts by Satellite in Catanduanes Pilot
PLDTMarambong, Pandan, Catanduanes, Bicol Region, Philippines
Starts 01/14/2026ESTIMATED 71% CONFIDENCE254 days agoThe test is undated in every source (PNA^[5] captions its photo 'in this undated photo'); PNA reports that PLDT^[1]-Smart 'on Wednesday (Jan. 14, 2026) announced the success' of the pilot, so the pin is anchored to that announcement.
Smart texted between Catanduanes and Metro Manila and loaded its website through Lynk Global's low-orbit satellites, its first direct-to-device satellite test, from a coastal village in Pandan.
0.76
Telecom09/24/2026@TechDesk
AST SpaceMobile Satellite Beta Starts for Verizon
Midland, Midland County, Texas, United StatesVerizon
Starts 12/31/2026ESTIMATED 62% CONFIDENCEin 97 daysAST's Q2 2026 results: 'Continued progress towards beta service in 2026 with initial 3,000 digital cells activated across the Continental United States'; TechTimes^[2] quotes AST's beta launch with AT&T and Verizon 'later this year' - a bare year is taken as 31 December.
AST SpaceMobile expects to start beta space-based cellular broadband with AT&T and Verizon before the end of 2026, reaching ordinary phones over Verizon's 850 MHz spectrum, though coverage will be intermittent until more satellites fly.
0.70
Telecom09/24/2026@TechDesk
Verizon Signs AST SpaceMobile Satellite-to-Phone Deal
VerizonMidland, Midland County, Texas, United States
Starts 10/08/2025 11:30AMCONFIRMED 88% CONFIDENCE352 days agoBusiness Wire copy on Nasdaq^[1]: 'Published Oct 8, 2025 7:30am EDT ... today announced the signing of a definitive commercial agreement with Verizon^[3]'.
AST SpaceMobile signed a definitive commercial agreement to connect Verizon customers' ordinary phones to its BlueBird satellites across the continental US from 2026, using Verizon's 850 MHz spectrum.
0.70
Space09/20/2026@TechDesk
Amazon Leo Consumer Satellite Internet Launch
AmazonSeattle, Washington
Starts 12/31/2026ESTIMATED6 months late74% CONFIDENCEin 97 daysAmazon says consumer service comes 'later this year'; one report puts consumer beta in five countries in late 2026 or early 2027. The last day of 2026 is used.^[1]
Amazon says it has launched enough Leo satellites for initial service and will open its satellite broadband to consumers later in 2026, after an enterprise preview that began April 8.
0.68
Telecom09/24/2026@TechDesk
Verizon Launches Satellite Texting to Any Phone on Android
Verizon1095 6th Avenue, Midtown, Manhattan, New York, NY 10036, United States
Starts 03/19/2025CONFIRMED 88% CONFIDENCE1.5 years agoVerizon's^[1][2][3] release of 19 March 2025: 'Upgrades enabling this service start today and will continue over the next two weeks.'
Verizon became the first US carrier to let customers text any other phone by satellite when out of cellular range, starting with Samsung Galaxy S25 and Google Pixel 9 phones.
0.68
Telecom09/24/2026@TechDesk
Smart and Lynk Take Satellite-to-Phone Tests to Ilocos Norte
Burgos, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Region, 2918, PhilippinesPLDT
Starts 03/02/2026ESTIMATED 59% CONFIDENCE207 days agoPLDT's^[1] release of 2 March 2026 says Smart and Lynk 'have completed another round of field tests' in Burgos, Bangui and Pagudpud without dating them, so the pin is anchored to that announcement.
Smart and Lynk Global texted Metro Manila by satellite and reached the DICT and PAGASA websites from Burgos, Bangui and Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte coastal towns facing the West Philippine Sea.
0.67
Telecom09/24/2026@TechDesk
Verizon Commits $100 Million to AST SpaceMobile
VerizonAST SpaceMobile, 2901 Enterprise Lane, Midland Spaceport Business Park, Midland, TX 79706, United States
Starts 05/29/2024CONFIRMED 89% CONFIDENCE2.3 years agoAST SpaceMobile's 8-K dated May 29, 2024 reports that "On May 23, 2024, the Company and Verizon ... entered into a Convertible Note and Memorandum of Understanding for an investment and commercial prepayment commitment totaling $100.0 million"; the pin is the day it was disclosed.^[1]
Verizon agreed to put $100 million into satellite-to-phone startup AST SpaceMobile: a $35 million convertible note plus $65 million of prepaid service payments, the second tied to regulatory approval and a definitive commercial agreement.
$100M
0.66
Telecom09/24/2026@TechDesk
AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Plan Satellite Joint Venture
Verizon1095 6th Avenue, Midtown, Manhattan, New York, NY 10036, United States
Starts 05/14/2026 10:55AMCONFIRMED 85% CONFIDENCE134 days agoVerizon's^[1] release is dated 05/14/2026 and PR Newswire^[3] stamps the joint release 'May 14, 2026, 06:55 ET'.
The three biggest US carriers agreed in principle to form a joint venture pooling spectrum so satellite operators can reach phones directly and all but end wireless dead zones.
0.65
Space09/20/2026@BuildDesk
Nuri launches NeonSat-2 to 6
Korea Aerospace Research InstituteLC-2, Naro Space Center, South Korea
Starts 10/07/2026 3:23AMSCHEDULED 75% CONFIDENCEin 12 daysLaunch Library 2 lists this as the no-earlier-than launch time; launches slip.^[1]
NeonSat-2 to 6 are part of the South Korean government's Earth observation micro-satellite constellation NeonSat (New-space Earth Observation Satellite). The NeonSat constellation is the first satellite system developed by the government using a mass-production approach for precise monitoring of the Korean Peninsula. Lifts off from LC-2, Naro Space Center, South Korea to Sun-Synchronous Orbit.
0.64
Space09/20/2026@TechDesk
Falcon 9 launches Starlink Group 15-25
SpaceXSpace Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Starts 10/10/2026 4:00PMESTIMATED10 days late60% CONFIDENCEin 15 daysSpaceflight Now's^[2] schedule (checked 2026-09-23): "Falcon 9 Starlink 15-25 - 'TBD' launch time on October 10 | SLC-4E, Vandenberg"; rocketlaunch.org gives October 10, 4:00 PM UTC. No firm time yet.
A batch of 27 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system. Lifts off from Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA to Low Earth Orbit. The booster is due to land at Of Course I Still Love You.
0.62
Telecom09/24/2026@TechDesk
Asia Direct Cable Enters Service for PLDT
Wawa, Nasugbu, Batangas, Calabarzon, 4231, PhilippinesPLDT
Starts 02/11/2025CONFIRMED 90% CONFIDENCE1.6 years agoPLDT's^[1][5][6] release of 11 February 2025 announces the cable 'marking its operational and commercial readiness', and PLDT's 20-F for 2025 (reference 1) states 'In February 2025, ADC went into service'.
The 9,988-kilometre Asia Direct Cable, landing at PLDT's Nasugbu station in Batangas, went live in February 2025, linking the Philippines to Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and China.
$75M
0.62
Transport09/23/2026@TechDesk
Waymo Announces Singapore Robotaxi Service for 2028
Land Transport Authority, 1 Hampshire Road, Kampong Java, Singapore 219428, SingaporeWaymo
Starts 09/18/2026CONFIRMED 83% CONFIDENCE7 days agoLTA's^[2] release of 18 September 2026 says "Waymo^[1] will be Singapore's newest autonomous vehicle operator"; AsiaOne^[3] says Waymo "announced the move on Friday (Sept 18)" (Waymo's own post carries the US date, September 17).
Waymo announced with Singapore's Ministry of Transport and Land Transport Authority that it will bring its fully autonomous ride-hailing service to Singapore, aiming to open to riders in 2028.
0.62

Philstar^[1] reports Smart will mount the service 'by 2027' and quotes Smart's Lloyd Manaloto gearing up 'for commercial launch next year' (said in January 2026); no month is given, so the year's last day is used.

Start: Dec 31, 202750% CONFIDENCEfrom the source

Smart Launches Direct-to-Device Satellite Service

Smart plans to switch on commercial satellite-to-phone service with Lynk Global in 2027, the first in the Philippines, starting with texts and light data for remote islands and disaster zones.

Smart aims to be the first Philippine telco with direct-to-device satellite service, launching commercially by 2027^[1][6]
The service rides on Lynk Global's low-orbit satellites and is meant for remote islands, mountains and areas knocked out by typhoons^[1][5]
Pilots in Catanduanes (January 2026) and Ilocos Norte (March 2026) carried texts and light data to ordinary phones^[3][5]
Smart says the launch also waits on Lynk putting more satellites in orbit; Lynk has five of a planned 5,000^[1][4]
PLDT's COO calls today's direct-to-cell texting slow, up to four minutes each way, but useful as a backup in hard-to-reach areas^[2]

Notable features

Direct-to-device: standard smartphones, no dish or satellite handset^[1][5]
Launch services: SMS and light data, growing toward full data as the constellation fills out^[1][5]
Target use: coverage gaps, maritime routes and emergency response^[1][3]

@TechDesk

References 671% CONFIDENCE

The first entry is always the pin's source. Overall confidence is a weighted average of how firmly each reference supports the start and end times used above; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newest.

[1]50%
philstar.com/business/2026/01/15/2500977/smart-nears-launch-satellite-service
philstar.com· Posted Sep 24, 2026· Starts Dec 31, 2027 ✓· 31% of score
Philstar reports Smart will mount the service 'by 2027' and quotes Smart's Lloyd Manaloto gearing up 'for commercial launch next year' (said in January 2026); no month is given, so the year's last day is used.
[2]75%
PLDT confident amid potential satellite market entry: 'Let's slug it out'
main.pldt.com· Published May 18, 2026· 19% of score
PLDT^[3][5] COO Menardo Jimenez on direct-to-cell rivals: SMS can take four minutes each way today, but satellite is useful as redundancy in hard-to-reach areas.
[3]82%
Smart and Lynk D2D satellite tech to enhance public safety, disaster response in hard-to-reach areas
main.pldt.com· Published Mar 2, 2026· 14% of score
PLDT's^[2][5] release on the Ilocos Norte test round, pitching D2D for public safety, disaster response and maritime connectivity.
[4]78%
PLDT's Smart tests Lynk's D2D satellite service in Catanduanes
developingtelecoms.com· Published Jan 15, 2026· 12% of score
Developing Telecoms: Lynk has five LEO satellites in orbit of a planned 5,000.
[5]88%
First successful data download via satellite: Smart, Lynk link up Catanduanes via direct-to-device satellite pilot
main.pldt.com· Published Jan 14, 2026· 12% of score
PLDT's^[2][3] release on the Catanduanes pilot, quoting Smart's Lloyd Manaloto: 'as we gear up for commercial launch next year'.

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Respond to this Pin

Telecom09/24/2026@TechDesk
Smart and Lynk Send Texts by Satellite in Catanduanes Pilot
PLDTMarambong, Pandan, Catanduanes, Bicol Region, Philippines
Starts 01/14/2026ESTIMATED 71% CONFIDENCE254 days agoThe test is undated in every source (PNA^[5] captions its photo 'in this undated photo'); PNA reports that PLDT^[1]-Smart 'on Wednesday (Jan. 14, 2026) announced the success' of the pilot, so the pin is anchored to that announcement.
Smart texted between Catanduanes and Metro Manila and loaded its website through Lynk Global's low-orbit satellites, its first direct-to-device satellite test, from a coastal village in Pandan.
0.76
Telecom09/24/2026@TechDesk
AST SpaceMobile Satellite Beta Starts for Verizon
Midland, Midland County, Texas, United StatesVerizon
Starts 12/31/2026ESTIMATED 62% CONFIDENCEin 97 daysAST's Q2 2026 results: 'Continued progress towards beta service in 2026 with initial 3,000 digital cells activated across the Continental United States'; TechTimes^[2] quotes AST's beta launch with AT&T and Verizon 'later this year' - a bare year is taken as 31 December.
AST SpaceMobile expects to start beta space-based cellular broadband with AT&T and Verizon before the end of 2026, reaching ordinary phones over Verizon's 850 MHz spectrum, though coverage will be intermittent until more satellites fly.
0.70
Telecom09/24/2026@TechDesk
Verizon Signs AST SpaceMobile Satellite-to-Phone Deal
VerizonMidland, Midland County, Texas, United States
Starts 10/08/2025 11:30AMCONFIRMED 88% CONFIDENCE352 days agoBusiness Wire copy on Nasdaq^[1]: 'Published Oct 8, 2025 7:30am EDT ... today announced the signing of a definitive commercial agreement with Verizon^[3]'.
AST SpaceMobile signed a definitive commercial agreement to connect Verizon customers' ordinary phones to its BlueBird satellites across the continental US from 2026, using Verizon's 850 MHz spectrum.
0.70
Space09/20/2026@TechDesk
Amazon Leo Consumer Satellite Internet Launch
AmazonSeattle, Washington
Starts 12/31/2026ESTIMATED6 months late74% CONFIDENCEin 97 daysAmazon says consumer service comes 'later this year'; one report puts consumer beta in five countries in late 2026 or early 2027. The last day of 2026 is used.^[1]
Amazon says it has launched enough Leo satellites for initial service and will open its satellite broadband to consumers later in 2026, after an enterprise preview that began April 8.
0.68
Telecom09/24/2026@TechDesk
Verizon Launches Satellite Texting to Any Phone on Android
Verizon1095 6th Avenue, Midtown, Manhattan, New York, NY 10036, United States
Starts 03/19/2025CONFIRMED 88% CONFIDENCE1.5 years agoVerizon's^[1][2][3] release of 19 March 2025: 'Upgrades enabling this service start today and will continue over the next two weeks.'
Verizon became the first US carrier to let customers text any other phone by satellite when out of cellular range, starting with Samsung Galaxy S25 and Google Pixel 9 phones.
0.68
Telecom09/24/2026@TechDesk
Smart and Lynk Take Satellite-to-Phone Tests to Ilocos Norte
Burgos, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Region, 2918, PhilippinesPLDT
Starts 03/02/2026ESTIMATED 59% CONFIDENCE207 days agoPLDT's^[1] release of 2 March 2026 says Smart and Lynk 'have completed another round of field tests' in Burgos, Bangui and Pagudpud without dating them, so the pin is anchored to that announcement.
Smart and Lynk Global texted Metro Manila by satellite and reached the DICT and PAGASA websites from Burgos, Bangui and Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte coastal towns facing the West Philippine Sea.
0.67
Telecom09/24/2026@TechDesk
Verizon Commits $100 Million to AST SpaceMobile
VerizonAST SpaceMobile, 2901 Enterprise Lane, Midland Spaceport Business Park, Midland, TX 79706, United States
Starts 05/29/2024CONFIRMED 89% CONFIDENCE2.3 years agoAST SpaceMobile's 8-K dated May 29, 2024 reports that "On May 23, 2024, the Company and Verizon ... entered into a Convertible Note and Memorandum of Understanding for an investment and commercial prepayment commitment totaling $100.0 million"; the pin is the day it was disclosed.^[1]
Verizon agreed to put $100 million into satellite-to-phone startup AST SpaceMobile: a $35 million convertible note plus $65 million of prepaid service payments, the second tied to regulatory approval and a definitive commercial agreement.
$100M
0.66
Telecom09/24/2026@TechDesk
AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Plan Satellite Joint Venture
Verizon1095 6th Avenue, Midtown, Manhattan, New York, NY 10036, United States
Starts 05/14/2026 10:55AMCONFIRMED 85% CONFIDENCE134 days agoVerizon's^[1] release is dated 05/14/2026 and PR Newswire^[3] stamps the joint release 'May 14, 2026, 06:55 ET'.
The three biggest US carriers agreed in principle to form a joint venture pooling spectrum so satellite operators can reach phones directly and all but end wireless dead zones.
0.65
Space09/20/2026@BuildDesk
Nuri launches NeonSat-2 to 6
Korea Aerospace Research InstituteLC-2, Naro Space Center, South Korea
Starts 10/07/2026 3:23AMSCHEDULED 75% CONFIDENCEin 12 daysLaunch Library 2 lists this as the no-earlier-than launch time; launches slip.^[1]
NeonSat-2 to 6 are part of the South Korean government's Earth observation micro-satellite constellation NeonSat (New-space Earth Observation Satellite). The NeonSat constellation is the first satellite system developed by the government using a mass-production approach for precise monitoring of the Korean Peninsula. Lifts off from LC-2, Naro Space Center, South Korea to Sun-Synchronous Orbit.
0.64
Space09/20/2026@TechDesk
Falcon 9 launches Starlink Group 15-25
SpaceXSpace Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA
Starts 10/10/2026 4:00PMESTIMATED10 days late60% CONFIDENCEin 15 daysSpaceflight Now's^[2] schedule (checked 2026-09-23): "Falcon 9 Starlink 15-25 - 'TBD' launch time on October 10 | SLC-4E, Vandenberg"; rocketlaunch.org gives October 10, 4:00 PM UTC. No firm time yet.
A batch of 27 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system. Lifts off from Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA to Low Earth Orbit. The booster is due to land at Of Course I Still Love You.
0.62
Telecom09/24/2026@TechDesk
Asia Direct Cable Enters Service for PLDT
Wawa, Nasugbu, Batangas, Calabarzon, 4231, PhilippinesPLDT
Starts 02/11/2025CONFIRMED 90% CONFIDENCE1.6 years agoPLDT's^[1][5][6] release of 11 February 2025 announces the cable 'marking its operational and commercial readiness', and PLDT's 20-F for 2025 (reference 1) states 'In February 2025, ADC went into service'.
The 9,988-kilometre Asia Direct Cable, landing at PLDT's Nasugbu station in Batangas, went live in February 2025, linking the Philippines to Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and China.
$75M
0.62
Transport09/23/2026@TechDesk
Waymo Announces Singapore Robotaxi Service for 2028
Land Transport Authority, 1 Hampshire Road, Kampong Java, Singapore 219428, SingaporeWaymo
Starts 09/18/2026CONFIRMED 83% CONFIDENCE7 days agoLTA's^[2] release of 18 September 2026 says "Waymo^[1] will be Singapore's newest autonomous vehicle operator"; AsiaOne^[3] says Waymo "announced the move on Friday (Sept 18)" (Waymo's own post carries the US date, September 17).
Waymo announced with Singapore's Ministry of Transport and Land Transport Authority that it will bring its fully autonomous ride-hailing service to Singapore, aiming to open to riders in 2028.
0.62

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