Chile to offer satellite coverage on mobile phones

SANTIAGE, Chile, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Chile has become the first country in Latin America to offer satellite coverage for mobile phones, enabling connectivity in remote and hard-to-reach areas through an agreement with Starlink, the satellite Internet service operated by SpaceX.

Entel, one of Chile's four mobile phone operators, has begun implementing Starlink's "Direct to Device" technology to reach areas without a signal, allowing phones to connect and send messages directly to the U.S.-based company's satellites.

"This will save lives of people in remote places by allowing them to call for help," entrepreneur Elon Musk said on his X account when announcing the partnership.

"The ability to send a text message in a critical situation from a place that currently has no connectivity can make a major difference in emergencies and in people's daily lives," Matías del Campo, Entel's vice president for the B2C market, told UPI.

In its initial phase, the technology will allow text messages to be sent in areas without coverage, as long as there is a clear line of sight to the sky. In conditions such as heavy rain or strong winds, which can occur in southern Chile, the signal could be temporarily affected.

Del Campo said the company is prioritizing the proper rollout of the technology in the short term before considering other uses, such as WhatsApp.

Telecommunications Undersecretary Claudio Araya told UPI the move marks a significant step for communications in Chile. Despite the country's high level of connectivity, gaps remain in non-urban and extreme regions.

"This advance allows us to begin closing that digital divide and provide greater security for people. This technology will allow us to save lives," Araya said.

The introduction of satellite coverage adds to other measures aimed at consolidating Chile's technological leadership.

"We were the first country in the region to implement the 5G network. Nearly all municipalities in Chile have fiber-optic networks or projects underway to bring this service. In addition, we will be the only country in the region to connect to Oceania through a submarine fiber-optic cable," Araya said.

He added that the government is actively seeking to have other mobile operators join the service and for satellite companies offering direct-to-cell services to begin operations in Chile.

Having this technology already approved and operational sets a precedent that will make it easier for other operators to negotiate similar agreements and offer direct-to-mobile satellite services, said Maritza Silva, director of civil computer engineering at the University of San Sebastián's Faculty of Engineering.

Silva told UPI that Chile has an advanced digital ecosystem and regulations that allow it to adopt these technologies earlier than others.

"Satellite connectivity is still in an early stage, so the challenge is to expand capacity and ensure it effectively reaches those who need it most," she said.

Starlink first arrived in Chile in 2021 to conduct social pilot programs with the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications to provide connectivity to rural or isolated communities with limited digital access. A few weeks ago, it began offering the satellite service commercially.