Vivo links ordinary phones to Starlink satellites, free for a limited time
Vivo has begun connecting ordinary smartphones directly to Starlink's satellite constellation, launching a service it calls Vivo Satélite that lets eligible subscribers send messages, share locations and use maps where terrestrial antennas cannot reach. The operator said on Monday that the service is free for a limited period and requires no new contract, no extra app and no request to activate.
The technical leap is Direct-to-Device, which turns low-orbit satellites into flying base stations rather than requiring a dish on the roof. The system operates in the 2,5 GHz band at transmission power of up to 100 watts, reaching the standard chip inside a handset. Users need an LTE or 5G phone with an updated physical SIM or eSIM, data roaming switched on and the latest operating system. Text, audio and location data do not count against the monthly allowance, but bandwidth-heavy uses such as video calls and general web browsing remain blocked.
The service demands a clear line of sight to the sky: a car roof, dense tree cover or a building will interrupt the signal. Anatel, the national telecommunications agency, ran a controlled test environment from June, and the authorisation has been renewed to 22 April 2029, with commercial operation permitted under the experimental rules. During this phase the frequencies are used on a secondary basis, meaning satellite traffic has no priority and must be cut instantly if it interferes with established services. Data gathered in the trial will inform the government's permanent rules for the sector.
The partnership is, in practice, a first step in a more aggressive corporate strategy. SpaceX has signalled it intends to sell data and voice subscriptions directly to mobile customers rather than remain a backup infrastructure provider, which would turn today's telecom partners into competitors. This month the company spent about US$8 billion on a broad portfolio of 800 MHz frequencies in the United States to expand Starlink Mobile, combining its own towers in cities with satellite coverage in remote areas.
The transaction jolted markets. T-Mobile shares fell more than 13% the day after the announcement, while AT&T and Verizon dropped close to 10% and 9% respectively, according to Token Times. In Brazil, Vivo's ordinary shares fell 5,25% and TIM's 4,18% at the time.
