Ecuador has joined the list of countries using satellites from Elon Musk’s Starlink company to provide broadband connections across all 24 provinces of the country. Vianna Maino, the Minister of Telecommunications and the Information Society welcomed the company, stating that Starlink has already assigned 15 satellites for exclusive use in Ecuador since April 1. The satellite internet will provide better connectivity to remote areas and promote work, income generation, and access to knowledge and information.
During the launch event held in the Galapagos Islands, Starlink’s Vice President, Chad Gibbs, connected via video conference from the United States and thanked Ecuador for the opportunity to offer high-speed internet service. The Foreign Minister, Gustavo Manrique, also participated from Quito, emphasising that this connectivity will provide citizens with better education, work, and inclusion.
Starlink has a network of 4,200 satellites globally and plans to reach 7,000 in the coming years. These satellites orbit the Earth at a speed of Mach 3, which is faster than a supersonic plane, allowing them to circle the planet in approximately an hour and a half. This speed translates into efficient service, with data download speeds averaging 100 Mbps and upload speeds of 40 Mbps.
Starlink joins other technology giants in Ecuador, including Google, META, Amazon Web Services, and Oracle. The arrival of Starlink’s satellite internet marks the National Government’s response to the demand for better connectivity in remote areas, promoting progress in the country through increased access to information and education.
