Starlink Direct-to-Device faces regulatory pushback in Brazil

Brazilian telecom operators Unifique, Vivo, Claro and Iez! Telecom have lodged formal objections with the Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações (Anatel) over SpaceX’s Starlink Direct‑to‑Device (D2D) service. The operators argue that allowing Starlink to use the S‑band on a different regulatory footing would give the satellite provider an unfair cost advantage and could destabilise the domestic market. They propose that any D2D offering be provided only through partnerships with existing mobile carriers.

International bodies such as Huawei and the GSMA have advised Anatel to await the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference, where the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is expected to publish technical standards for D2D. Meanwhile, technology outlets explain that the Direct‑to‑Cell system uses low‑Earth‑orbit satellites, positioned about 500 km above the Earth, to deliver mobile‑phone signals directly, bypassing traditional ground towers. The technology is not intended to replace existing networks but to supplement coverage in remote or emergency‑prone areas, offering lower latency than geostationary satellites.

The combined regulatory concerns and pending global standards highlight the uncertain path for Starlink’s D2D rollout in Brazil.