Chile became the first nation of Latin America to perform Technical tests between a cell phone and a satellite directly.
It is a communication made in the province of Diego de Almagro, in Atacama already 1,100 kilometers from Santiago, where there is no telecommunications operator, but where about 14,000 people do live.
Chile, consisting of its tradition of being a leading country in the telecommunications of Latin America, achieved this milestone, thanks to a collaboration between the Chilean Telefónica Entel and the Starlink satellite system.
The test, which was led by the Undersecretariat of Telecommunications (Subtel), not only means that More Chilean citizens disconnected can access a first cellular communication service Through support of a satellite system, but also warns the opening of new business possibilities for operators.
The journalist Andrea Catalano reported in turn that the fact is today a pilot test, but that Starlink plans to market this type of services throughout 2025 in several Latin American countries.
The intention of the subtel, Entel And Starlink seeks to improve the connectivity of customers residing or are permanently or temporarily in areas without coverage, and will work when a cell phone does not have a terrestrial mobile network, directly connecting it to the Starlink Direct To Cell satellites.
He display of this technology It will be gradual, said the subtel of Chile.
In the first stage, users can be kept connected by sending and receiving SMS already measured the implementation of the entire project, limited data services will be enabled and then voice calls.
“The coverage gap is closing it with innovation, efficiency and technological convergence. Every step we take in digital connectivity, consolidates the position of our country as an attractive digital services platform for companies that develop avant -garde technologies, such as data centers, underwater cables and in this case, satellite connectivity technologies. The tests are encouraging and show us that a country that has an extensive and complex geography, will have the possibility of having a signal in any part of the national territory, ”said the Subtel.
Entel thus manages to be one of the first companies in the world and the first in Latin America to have an agreement for this service with Starlink.
Direct to Cell Starlink has a fleet of more than 400 satellites that provide direct satellite connectivity services to the cell phone worldwide.
