SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is seeing his satellite internet service expand to several new places around the globe, with a new license to operate in Brazil coming to fruition.
The company’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) Starlink internet service obtained the proper license to begin operating in Brazil on Friday, according to ZDNet.
Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) granted Starlink the right to operate in the country with exploitation rights through 2027.
While the agency’s original plan was to grant operation until 2033, it reduced the timeline due to “possible unforeseen impacts” and the service’s “pioneering nature.”
SpaceX Launches Starlink Premium for Businesses https://t.co/jWZfWz1Smv
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Anatel Interim President Emmanoel Campelo said, “It is in the company’s interest to provide internet access to customers throughout the Brazilian territory, which will certainly be very opportune for schools, hospitals, and other establishments located in rural and remote areas.”
Starlink currently offers service to over 145,000 users across 25 countries, despite seeing an increase of just 5,000 users since November, due to “silicon shortages that have delayed the production” of its terminals.
In January, SpaceX reported that it had 1,469 Starlink satellites active in orbit with new laser link technology activating soon.
Over the long term, SpaceX says it plans to put a total of 4,408 satellites into orbit in its satellite constellation.
Yesterday, Starlink launch a Premium version of the service, offering faster download speeds, geared towards businesses.
