The Starlink company – part of Elon Musk’s Space X conglomerate – begins operations in Ecuador. Starting this Saturday, April 1, 2023, Starlink satellite Internet service will be available to residents of the Galapagos Islands and the 250,000 tourists visiting the archipelago.

The Ministry of Telecommunications reported that this multinational company will activate its satellite communication network, which will provide broadband Internet service to citizens living, especially in rural and remote areas of the country.

This government portfolio coordinated with Starlink representatives the activation of the system that will be implemented first in the Galapagos, after all regulatory requirements are met.

Telecommunications Minister Vianna Maino said Starlink’s presence in Ecuador demonstrates the government’s commitment to creating modern regulatory environments that attract investment in the telecommunications sector. And that these inclusive public policies make it possible to reduce the digital divide in peripheral and hard-to-reach areas.

In 2022, there was $900 million in infrastructure investment in the telecommunications sector contributed by the state-controlled private sector, the official said in a statement. In addition, laws such as Fintech and Digital and Audiovisual Transformation were approved between December 2022 and February 2023, which facilitate the arrival of international companies and new digital services to the country.

The ministry also explained that Starlink has about 3,558 active satellites located in low Earth orbit, which allows signals to be uploaded and restored almost instantaneously to offer high-speed, low-latency internet. This scheme makes it easy to provide Internet anywhere, making it ideal for covering remote territories.

As the company increases satellite operations, coverage will be opened in more provinces of Ecuador.