# Lynk and Omnispace merger creates D2D challenger Elveo Mobile > Source: > Published: 2026-08-17 04:31:00+00:00 Featured Story ## Lockheed Martin preps drone detection service using Verizon 5G Lockheed Martin plans to offer a 5G drone detection service next year using Verizon's network and tech from Nvidia, ODC, Keysight and subsidiary Astris AI. Satellite operators Lynk and Omnispace completed their merger on Friday (August 14) to create a new global direct-to-device (D2D) player called Elveo Mobile. But if you ask Elveo Mobile CEO Ramu Potarazu, who was previously CEO of Lynk, he doesn't view the combined entity as new at all. "We've been around a long time. [Lynk and Omnispace] are coming together as one company with a lot of heritage … We're the old player that's rebuilding and rewriting D2D," Potarazu told Light Reading. [Lynk](/oss-bss-cx/in-the-5g-race-to-space-lynk-takes-the-lead-against-spacemobile) was founded in 2017 and was the first satellite operator to make a two-way connection between its "cell tower in space" to a standard mobile phone on the ground. [Omnispace](/oss-bss-cx/omnispace-raises-60m-to-beam-5g-from-space) started in 2012, initially as a holding company for 2GHz mobile satellite service (MSS) S-band spectrum rights acquired from bankrupt ICO Global before it started launching its own satellites. They [announced the plan to merge](/satellite/lynk-omnispace-ink-d2d-focused-merger-deal) in October last year. Elveo Mobile aims to provide D2D connectivity around the globe via multi-orbit satellites using terrestrial and MSS spectrum in partnership with mobile network operators and other enterprises. The device component in Elveo's D2D strategy is meant in the broadest sense, because it goes beyond smartphones to include a wide variety of IoT devices. "We want to be partners with mobile network operators, automotive industry, IoT industry, government and humanitarian [organizations]," he said. For extra clarity, Potarazu emphasized: "Ramu will not compete with mobile network operators." The company does not want to "own the end customer" and its model effectively makes them a roaming partner for MNOs. Elveo said it has 56 contracts with MNOs and distribution partners covering more than 60 countries. As a global operator, it plans to provide services across North America, Europe and Asia. It is testing services with ten operators. Neither Lynk nor Omnispace had commercial services running before the merger. The satellite operator is starting with nine satellites in orbit: six satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO) from Lynk along with two LEO and one medium-Earth orbit (MEO) from Omnispace. For "persistent global coverage," it aims to have a constellation of 320 LEO satellites, and has a manufacturing plan in place to support the target. It expects to start deploying the new satellites in the fourth quarter of 2027, complete the rollout around mid-2028, and launch commercial services by early 2028. Initial services will have narrowband capabilities for applications from SMS, WhatsApp and FaceTime to mobile banking. It plans to add more data-intensive applications over time. Potarazu distinguishes Elveo from other D2D players in that it can support multiple "waveforms" and a range of frequencies, including terrestrial IMT and midband as well as its international rights to 60MHz of S-band MSS spectrum. He also claims the satellites are the only ones that are "backward compatible" for cellular devices with support for 2G, 4G, 5G and IoT using 3GPP non-terrestrial network (NTN) standards. "Any of those combinations we can do at any time. The power of Elveo is we can configure what is required for the end customer [in] real time. We don't have to change satellites," he said. "Our satellites are simple in the sense of we put a lot of sophistication in the payload, so that we can do multiple waveforms and multiple frequencies at the same time, so they're very powerful satellites with computing power." Elveo is also evaluating how that computing power could be used for other applications when it's not needed for configuring the satellites. The compute on the satellites could handle large language models, for example. But he clarified that the company is "not building data centers in the sky." Rather, Elveo is "embedding intelligence" and combining it with the connectivity on the satellite to support new capabilities and applications for customers. "We're able to do that by computing on the satellite and getting them the intelligence they need at the point of decision making ... whether on the ground or in space," he said. Elveo also gets a boost in multi-orbit network architecture and business support from strategic partner and "significant" shareholder SES, the Luxembourg-based satellite operator that [acquired Intelsat last year](/satellite/SES-to-strengthen-itself-with-$3.1-billion-Intelsat-acquisition). Intelsat had invested in Omnispace and, separately, SES invested in Lynk. After its own transaction, SES had a stake in both D2D operators and now in the combined company. "With SES at the table with us, it now helps us bring the gravitas that's required to work in this space," said Potarazu. "We have a strong partner in SES that's helping us execute on our strategy." However, he stressed that SES does not have control over Elveo, its satellites or operations. SES provides Elveo access to its MEO and GEO constellations and ground stations. Each of Elveo's LEO satellites will have an antenna that can point to a MEO or GEO satellite at any time, explained Potarazu. "It allows to optimize traffic…We have the ability to be flexible in our architecture. It's a cost-effective way to do it. We don't have to put [up] as many satellites, but more importantly, we will not have to put as [many] ground stations together. That technology has been validated and tested," he said. Further, SES also provides "global reach" in marketing and sales channels. It could also help in developing Elveo's global manufacturing. Among the things on Potarazu's to-do list for Elveo is talking to new partners and setting up global manufacturing. It also needs to raise funding to support all the satellites it plans to make and launch. Without providing details on how much is needed, he said he is "investigating when [is] the best time to raise the right capital from the right vehicle." Another priority is to expand its spectrum rights around the world. As part of this effort, it plans to participate in [Europe's distribution of 2GHz MSS rights](/satellite/eu-risks-us-ire-with-limits-on-2ghz-satellite-spectrum) when the current licenses expire in 2027. Finally, Potarazu is focused on "scaling as quickly as we can." It is early days for satellite D2D. As a combined company, Elveo will continue to be up against AST SpaceMobile and SpaceX's Starlink Mobile, both of which have more satellites in orbit, with the latter already providing commercial services, as well as a host of other players that include Skylo. Elvio is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has more than 150 employees. Lynk and Omnispace's current investors include SES, Fortress, Stepstone, Columbia Capital, Telcom Ventures and Blazar Ventures.