Starlink expands satellite internet access to Latin America

It might sound like something out of a science fiction movie, but Starlink — the much-hyped satellite internet service from Elon Musk’s SpaceX — is well on its way to creating a global network capable of beaming internet connectivity to almost anywhere on the planet, including the most isolated regions of Latin America. 

Last week, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a new fleet of 60 Starlink internet satellites into low-earth orbit, bringing the company’s total number to 1,325, inching toward its initial goal of having 1,440 satellites orbiting the Earth. But that’s just the start. SpaceX obtained permission from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch as many as 30,000 satellites, with an option to deploy even more in the future.

Starlink began beta testing its new service last October in remote and rural regions of the U.S., where it has been met with much enthusiasm. Since then, more than 10,000 users in the U.S. and five other countries have received access. Expanding service to Latin America’s 450 million+ (and growing) internet users is next on Starlink’s to-do list. 

As of this spring, the company is licensed to operate in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico. Chile is set to be the first Latin American nation to receive the new satellite internet services, by mid-2021. Starlink began accepting pre-registrations for service in these first five Latin American countries in February, but more satellites must be launched and ground equipment must be installed locally before the network is fully operational later this year. 

Why is Elon Musk’s space venture coming to Latin America?

The arrival of Starlink is welcome news for many isolated communities and regions that suffer from limited to no access to traditional broadband, creating a digital divide that has only been widened by the demands of remote work,...