The Communications Services Regulatory Unit (Ursec) granted the class B license to the company starlink satellite internet service — owned by the billionaire Elon Musk— which will allow you to offer this connection mode in Uruguay. The company must pay 50,000 Indexed Units (UI) for obtaining the license and $7,377 for the authorization of the non-geostationary satellite system.
The Ursec granted the Class B Telecommunications License to Starlink Uruguay SRL along with the authorization for the provision of data transmission service through its low orbit satellite network in the national territory, after the American company made the corresponding request for this, as Ámbito reported at the end of January .
The request was “under study” by the regulatory unit, which paid particular attention to the impact that the authorization of a new internet provider could have on the local market that, until recently, operated under the monopoly of the state company Antel.
However, Ursec decided to enable Starlink to operate in the country, considering, among other things, that the company owned by Elon Musk complies with current regulations and that its satellite network operates in accordance with the provisions of the Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union.
Likewise, it took into account that the company reported having 4,338 satellites in orbit and that it is providing services in several countries in South America.
For the authorizations to be maintained, Starlink must pay within the next 30 days the payment of 50,000 UI—about 298,995 pesos, at the current price—to obtain the class B license; and another $7,377 for the authorization of the non-geostationary satellite system.
The satellite network internet company must also “report the number of satellites that make up its network that are in operational condition in said instances,” each year between May and November; and “supply in a timely manner upon request all the information requested regarding the services provided, their technical-administrative conditions and the telecommunications systems used for this purpose,” as explained in the Ursec resolution.
Doubts surrounding authorization
While Ursec was still studying the request for starlink, The debate about how the inclusion of this competitor in the local market, which until recently was a monopoly of Antel, could affect the inclusion of this competitor, was present.
In that sense, several weeks ago, the regulatory body authorized cable operators to provide internet, as well as amazon to provide satellite internet to companies — while Starlink will do so to end users. The main difference is in the type of license sought: the company of the also billionaire Jeff Bezos obtained a communications license Class Cand Musk’s, now, one of Class bwhich “enables the provision of telecommunications services, using as support the network, means or links of its own or that of another provider.”
In any case, there are doubts regarding the impact that Starlink’s entry may have in a market heavily covered by Antel. According to sources in the telecommunications sector, satellite internet is still “niche” and, therefore, more expensive than already available options such as optical fiber, Therefore, a large effect is not expected at the level of clients and income, being a “complementary” service to that offered by the public company.
Source: Ambito
