Chinese satellite company challenges Starlink in Brazil

(CLO) Chinese satellite company SpaceSail has just announced plans to deploy satellite services in Brazil to compete with billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink.

The announcement came during Chinese President Xi Jinping's official visit to Brazil, where he and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed an agreement to upgrade their strategic partnership.

Photo: Hurfpostbrasil

SpaceSail, also known as Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology, has reached an agreement with Brazilian state-owned Telebrás to provide satellite communications and broadband internet services across Brazil. The service is expected to be operational by 2026, targeting areas not connected by fiber infrastructure.

SpaceSail plans to deploy 15,000 satellites into low Earth orbit by 2030, aiming to capture the satellite internet market in Brazil, where Starlink currently has nearly half the market share.

This comes amid an escalating feud between Elon Musk and Brazil. Musk was forced to remove accounts on the X platform for allegedly spreading extremist content, leading to the platform being temporarily banned in Brazil.

The SpaceSail deal with Brazil is part of a broader Chinese strategy to increase its influence in Latin America. During his visit, Xi signed dozens of agreements with Brazil in the fields of agriculture , technology, and infrastructure, and upgraded the two countries' strategic partnership. However, Brazil has not yet joined China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), despite receiving multiple invitations from Beijing.

The competition between SpaceSail and Starlink not only reflects a shift in the regional power order, but is also emblematic of the confrontation between China and the US in the technological and geopolitical space.

Cao Phong (according to FT, Bloomberg)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/cong-ty-trung-quoc-trien-khai-internet-ve-tinh-de-canh-tranh-voi-starlink-cua-elon-musk-post322542.html