Vivo and Starlink launch Brazil's first nationwide satellite-to-phone service

Starlink Mobile has gone live in Brazil in partnership with Vivo, Telefónica’s Brazilian operator, offering satellite-to-phone coverage across the entire country. Starlink announced the launch on Monday, describing it as its first nationwide satellite-to-mobile service, with 50 million customers eligible and seven million phones already connected.

The service, called Vivo Satélite, automatically connects compatible smartphones to Starlink satellites when no terrestrial mobile signal is available, provided the user is outdoors with a clear view of the sky. It works as an extension of Vivo’s terrestrial network, covering highways, rural areas and remote regions without conventional infrastructure.

In this first deployment, customers can use WhatsApp messaging and app-based voice calls, SMS, iMessage, Google Maps and Apple Maps without a conventional signal. Traditional voice calls, video calls and general web browsing are not currently supported.

“With Vivo Satellite, Vivo customers will have signal wherever they are: on highways, rural areas, remote areas, or regions of difficult access that still do not have terrestrial infrastructure,” Vivo chief operating officer Alex Salgado said.

Vivo confirmed consumer customers will receive 12 months of free access, while business customers receive a three-month trial. Starlink said its next-generation Starlink Mobile V2 service will bring high-speed mobile internet to Brazilians, from fishing villages in the rainforest to remote stretches of highway. The launch follows Brazil’s telecom regulator Anatel voting on October 9 to approve Starlink Mobile’s 2 GHz access.

Sources: Drive Tesla Canada, EuropeSays