Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
2 min of reading 
1 comment 
Regulatory Agency Opened Public Consultation to Discuss Direct to Cell Service After Suspension Request Made by Competing Operators, But Did Not Suspend the Authorization.
A rumor about the prohibition of Starlink internet for mobile phones in Brazil gained traction recently. However, the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) did not prohibit the service. The agency opened a public consultation to discuss the matter after a suspension request made by competitors.
What Is Starlink’s Direct to Cell Service?
Starlink developed a technology called Direct to Cell. It allows ordinary mobile phones, like the ones we use every day, to connect directly to its satellites. The goal is to provide coverage in remote areas where there is no signal from terrestrial phone towers. In Brazil, the company plans to offer the service in partnership with Vivo.
Why Did the Rumor About the Prohibition of Starlink Internet Arise?
The rumor began after the Claro operator and the association Conexis Brasil Digital, which represents major telecommunications companies, filed a request with Anatel. They requested the suspension of the authorization that allows Starlink to provide direct connection service between satellites and mobile phones.
-
With a cost per shot close to zero, the DragonFire laser could change naval warfare in 2027 and provide British ships with nearly unlimited defense against drones.
-
A British startup creates tires that generate electricity in electric vehicles when passing over potholes, speed bumps, and cracks.
-
Scientists have created robots made with living cells that have their own nervous system, swim on their own, explore the environment, and self-organize without any genetic engineering, and now they want to do the same with human cells.
-
Students create a solar-powered ambulance that operates without a plug, without fuel, and still keeps medical equipment running in remote areas.
The main argument is that Starlink internet would be using the spectrum designated for the Personal Mobile Service (SMP) without having the same regulatory obligations and costs that traditional operators incurred to acquire these licenses. According to them, this would create an unfair competitive advantage for the satellite company.
What Is Anatel’s Position on the Case?
The Anatel did not accept the request for a precautionary suspension. Therefore, the information that the agency prohibited the service is false. What Anatel did was initiate a public consultation on the topic.
This means that the agency will hear all interested parties, including Starlink, the operators, and society, to gather information. The goal is to better understand the scenario and implications of the service before making any definitive decisions about the rules for this new technology in the country. Starlink’s service continues with its valid exploration authorization.
What Happens Now with Satellite Internet for Mobile Phones?
Currently, the authorization for Starlink internet to operate the Direct to Cell service in Brazil, on an experimental basis, remains valid. The company can proceed with its plans.
The public consultation opened by Anatel will serve as a basis for the agency to define a regulatory model for direct communication between satellites and mobile phones. Only after this step will Anatel establish the final rules for the commercial exploitation of this type of service in the national territory.
Sempre que o consumidor leva vantagem em qualquer área, o lobby entra em ação contra.