Starlink continues to boost its presence in Latin America, launching connectivity in Panama and confirming that it has received an operating licence in Guatemala.
Panama’s National Public Services Authority (Autoridad Nacional de los Servicios Publicos, ASEP) granted Starlink a licence to offer “Internet service for public use” on 20th June 2022. Oddly, in August 2022 the regulator dismissed Starlink’s application for a licence to offer Telecommunication Service by Low Orbit Satellites despite the firm’s focus on this technology.
Last week (19th May), Starlink received a licence to provide internet services in Guatemala from the country’s Superintendence of Telecommunications (Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones, SIT). In a statement, the government noted: “This initiative seeks to provide equal opportunities to all Guatemalans, eliminating the barriers that exist in internet access and promoting socioeconomic development.”
With this latest licence, CommsUpdate notes that Starlink has been authorised to provide connectivity in over 50 countries. Its parent group SpaceX to date has around 4000 satellites in orbit, and aims to expand this to 42,000.
