Brazil and China's SpaceSail Sign Deal for 2026 Satellite Internet, Challenging Musk's Starlink

Nov 20, 2024, 02:14 PM

Brazil has signed an agreement with China's SpaceSail, also known as Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology, to provide satellite internet services starting in 2026. The agreement was signed between SpaceSail and Telecomunicações Brasileiras S.A. (Telebras), the Brazilian state-owned telecommunications company, in conjunction with Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Brazil. SpaceSail, which aims to compete with Elon Musk's Starlink, launched its first 36 satellites in August and September and plans to have 648 satellites in orbit within 14 months, aiming for over 1,600 satellites by 2030. The company intends to establish broadband internet access in remote and underserved regions of Brazil. This move challenges Starlink's dominance; Musk's company already serves over 250,000 customers in Brazil using more than 6,000 satellites in orbit. The Brazilian Minister of Communications, Juscelino Filho, spoke about the collaboration, emphasizing its significance for the country's connectivity and digital economy.