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Brazil and China's plan to challenge Elon Musk's Starlink dominance sounds like something straight out of a science fiction movie script. After a series of tensions and political twists and turns, the two international giants are starting to work out a deal that promises to shake up the satellite internet market. Looking for alternatives, Brazilian authorities see the Chinese company SpaceSail as a potential way to break Elon Musk's Starlink dominance in the country.
The governments of Brazil and China are negotiating a memorandum of understanding, seeking to reduce Brazil's dependence on Elon Musk's Starlink, a company that currently leads the country's satellite internet market with a 45,9% share. According to Hermano Barros Tercius, telecommunications secretary at the Ministry of Communications, talks are already progressing between authorities and representatives of SpaceSail, a private Chinese satellite company.
The idea is to make the first steps of this partnership during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Brazil, scheduled for November 20. If the memorandum is signed, it will mark the beginning of a technical collaboration between the two countries to establish SpaceSail in the Brazilian market, where Elon Musk's Starlink has quickly established itself.
Market space for Brazil and China
Starlink, which already accounts for almost half of the satellite internet market, has become a crucial option for communities in remote areas, such as the Amazon, and for strategic sectors, including the Navy and Petrobras platforms.
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However, after friction between Musk and the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) in August this year, questions arose about Brazil's dependence on Elon Musk's Starlink infrastructure. In response, Brazil began negotiations with new suppliers, most notably SpaceSail, which operates low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites similar to Starlink's.
The crisis with Musk, which intensified with the temporary suspension of the X platform (formerly Twitter) in Brazil, seems to have paved the way for the plan of Brazil and China strengthening the presence of new competitors in the satellite internet sector.
During the conflicts, Starlink had its accounts blocked by order of the Supreme Federal Court due to non-payment of fines. Although the service was reestablished, the episode revealed Brazil's vulnerability to Elon Musk's Starlink.
Telebras support and strategic alternatives
One possibility discussed between the two countries involves the use of Brazilian infrastructure at the Alcรขntara Launch Center in Maranhรฃo. According to Tercius, the proposal made to SpaceSail would allow the Chinese company to use the base to launch part of its satellites, which would accelerate the company's satellite constellation schedule.
Additionally, the Brazilian government sees Telebras as a potential partner to distribute SpaceSail's signal, serving schools and government facilities in hard-to-reach areas.
SpaceSail plans to expand its satellite fleet from 18 to 15 by 2030, aiming to compete directly with Starlink's constellation of about 6 satellites. Such an expansion, experts say, would benefit both the private and public sectors by offering an alternative to Elon Musk's Starlink.
Importance of competition and future actions
For Sage Networksโ CTO, Thiago Ayub, the entry of new players like SpaceSail is essential for the health of the Brazilian market. โWith a vital service like satellite internet, it is essential to avoid monopolies and promote competition that results in better prices and greater accessibility,โ said Ayub.
The Chinese government, in turn, sees the expansion of satellite internet infrastructure as a strategic priority, supported by the National Development and Reform Commission. With this, the Brazil plan and China is emerging as a strategic move that could, if consolidated, change the satellite internet scenario in Brazil, opening up space for other competitors to break the dominance of Elon Musk's Starlink.
I don't believe in this negotiation. This is a way to further implement communism in Brazil. Until there is justice and this **** administration is eradicated once and for all in Brazil, we will have a red flag in this country. China is buying Brazil. A WEAK and **** government will only lead to this.
Everything is a scheme of the communist government of Brazil... It's all sold to the Chinese
As far as I remember, Bolsonaro was also negotiating 5G in the country with a Chinese company (Huawei) and this was not about implementing communism, a weak government, a โred flagโ or China buying Brazil. Everything was โrightโ and correct. Double standards! The stupidity of the right-wingers is frightening. They donโt even understand politics and want to give their opinion on technology. Pathetic!!
Nonsense, who the Brazilian authorities in front of ELON MUSK lol it even seems like a joke
Pocket **** goes crazy lol
They're shitting themselves in fear that Musk will throw **** in the fan! ๐๐๐