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Rapid Expansion of Starlink Expands Debate on Global Connectivity, Pressures Traditional Operators, and Reignites Regulatory Discussion in Countries Like Brazil.
The Starlink satellite network, operated by Elon Musk‘s SpaceX, has begun testing direct connectivity between satellites and ordinary cell phones in some countries and has reignited the question: in a scenario where the signal comes from space to any phone with 4G technology, what will be the role of operators like Claro, TIM, Vivo, and Oi?
For now, however, the technology is advancing rapidly outside Brazil, still facing technical and regulatory limitations and is closer to complementing traditional mobile networks than completely replacing them.
Starlink and Global Reach
Starlink is a low Earth orbit satellite constellation operated by a subsidiary of SpaceX.
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The company offers satellite broadband for homes, businesses, airplanes, and vessels, with coverage in about 150 countries and territories.
Since 2019, SpaceX has been continuously launching satellites, and by the end of October 2025, there were around 8,800 Starlink units in orbit, making the constellation the largest ever operated in the world.
The company plans, with already obtained licenses and additional requests, to reach tens of thousands of satellites in the coming decades, expanding global capacity and coverage.
In residential and corporate plans, users report speeds that generally range from approximately 75 to 220 megabits per second (Mbps), with typical latency between 25 and 60 milliseconds, depending on the region and the chosen plan.
These numbers already place Starlink above most traditional satellite services, although still below fiber optics in large cities.
Direct Connection to Cell Phone: How It Works
In addition to broadband via dedicated antennas, the company is developing Starlink Direct to Cell, a service that turns each satellite into a kind of “cell phone antenna in space.”
The idea is to allow a regular 4G phone to connect directly to the satellite when it is in an area without coverage from terrestrial towers.
According to Starlink itself, Direct to Cell began by offering text message exchange starting in 2024 and will gradually evolve to data, Internet of Things (IoT), and voice via apps starting in 2025, in a limited manner.
This does not equate to the same performance as a fixed broadband plan.
The priority is to ensure basic connectivity in emergency situations, on isolated roads, rural areas, or hard-to-reach regions.
In the United States, for example, T-Mobile has begun a testing program with Direct to Cell for supplemental coverage, initially focused on text messages and limited app use, in areas where there is no signal from conventional towers.
Regulatory Situation in Brazil
Despite international advancements, Brazil has not yet authorized Starlink to provide direct satellite connectivity for cell phones.
In a statement released in August 2025, the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) clarified that Elon Musk’s company does not have a license to provide this type of mobile service in the country.
The agency acknowledges that Direct to Cell technology could expand mobile phone coverage but reminds that any company must have a specific grant for personal mobile service and authorizations for using radio frequencies designated for cellular telephony to operate in this modality.
So far, Starlink has authorization only for the offering of satellite broadband with its own antennas, including in rural and remote areas, and not for direct cell phone connectivity.
Anatel also dispelled rumors about supposed free internet access via Starlink on cell phones in Brazil.
The regulatory agency emphasized that, in addition to not having authorization for mobile service, free provision on a national scale would require specific discussions on business model and regulation, something that is not currently in effect.
Digital Inclusion in the Backlands and Amazon
Even without the direct connection to cell phones, Starlink’s presence is already starting to impact the debate on digital inclusion in the country.
Schools, health posts, and small businesses in rural areas have been adopting satellite broadband antennas to connect regions without fiber or 4G infrastructure.
With Direct to Cell fully operational in other markets, the potential for the Amazon, Pantanal, or northeastern semi-arid regions is considered significant.
In theory, it is enough to have a compatible phone and a clear view of the sky to exchange messages, use basic apps, and access digital public services, even far from any tower.
This possibility interests governments and companies in sectors such as agribusiness, mining, logistics, and energy, which face difficulties in keeping teams connected in remote areas.
In a scenario of expanding coverage, Starlink could complement connectivity programs already underway, including through public-private partnerships.
Do Brazilian Operators Lose Space?
The popularization of Direct to Cell raises the question about the future of large mobile operators.
In practice, the model being tested in other countries resembles more a complementary coverage rather than total replacement of networks like Claro, TIM, Vivo, and Oi.
In the United States, T-Mobile treats the service as “emergency coverage” in shadow areas, and not as a substitute for traditional plans.
The satellite takes over the connection when the device loses the signal from the towers, but intense data traffic remains concentrated on the terrestrial infrastructure, which is more efficient for large volumes.
For Brazil, experts point out that a similar model would require Starlink’s direct entry into the mobile phone market, with its own licenses or roaming and network sharing agreements with already established operators.
In both cases, the trend would be cooperation rather than immediate elimination of current companies.
Moreover, the cost per gigabyte on satellite networks is still higher than on dense terrestrial networks, making it unlikely that satellite connectivity alone will meet the data demand of large urban centers.
Competition in Space Grows
Starlink is not advancing alone.
Other companies, such as Amazon, are also accelerating low Earth orbit constellation projects focusing on broadband and corporate solutions.
In November 2025, the company introduced Amazon Leo and a terminal capable of reaching up to 1 gigabit per second, reinforcing the competition for corporate clients.
This growth of constellations brings challenges of international regulation, risk of space debris, and impact on astronomical observation, with studies showing a significant increase in satellite trails in telescope images.
On the technical front, Direct to Cell is still undergoing performance tests, including interference management and specific radio solutions to ensure stability.
New Connectivity Models
Rather than signaling the immediate end of Claro, TIM, Vivo, Oi, the advance of Starlink and other low-orbit projects indicates a possible reorganization of the sector.
Terrestrial networks should remain as the central connectivity structure in cities, while satellites gain importance in eliminating coverage gaps and providing alternative pathways in critical situations.
If direct cell phone connectivity is authorized in Brazil and improves in performance, the business model of operators may be pressured to reduce signal gaps, expand agreements with satellite constellations, and revise prices in regions without competition.
The lingering question is whether the telecoms can turn this change into an advantage before new entrants take prominence, or if user behavior — increasingly less tolerant of being offline — will accelerate the hunt for solutions that work anywhere on the map.
Gostaria muito que fosse o atualizado bem rápido pra ter uma internet móvel de qualidade OK obrigada
Com certeza seria muito ter a Star link aqui no Brasil vai ser ótimo pra todos nós 🙏 OK obrigado
Força musk estamos com vc
Vc é o cara eu instalo cerca de 25 antenas da starlink por mes aq bora moe a concorrençia q nunca investiu agora estão sendo esmagadas pela starlink.
Starlink é nota 1000 recomendo 100%