Latin America

Three Brazilian carriers sign satellite-to-phone deal with AST SpaceMobile

Unifique, Brisanet and iez! plan to use 700 MHz spectrum to extend mobile coverage by satellite. Final terms, permits and a launch date remain outstanding.

Unifique said on October 23 that it had signed a commercial agreement with Brisanet and iez! Telecom and AST SpaceMobile to develop direct-to-phone satellite mobile broadband in Brazil. The three carriers would contribute their 700 MHz spectrum and fund connections between their networks and AST's ground gateways. The filing with Brazil's securities regulator describes the project as a way to extend coverage beyond terrestrial networks. [1]

The planned service aims to provide calls, broadband data and video on ordinary phones. That is a technical goal of the agreement, not an existing customer offer. Unifique says final contract terms are still being negotiated and the transaction depends on regulatory authorisations and licences. TELETIME, a separate newsroom that reviewed the announcement, reported that the companies had given neither a launch date nor prices. [1][3]

Anatel maintains an experimental framework for direct-to-device satellite applications. Mobile carriers must request temporary spectrum authorisation before operating, and the regulator examines possible interference. The agreement therefore does not establish continuous nationwide coverage or a commercial launch. The archive photograph shows a BlueBird satellite launch in the United States in August, not infrastructure installed in Brazil. [2][3]

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