Elon Musk's Chinese rival in the field of satellite Internet, SpaceSail, intends to start operations in Brazil in 2026. This is what the head of the company from Shanghai told Bloomberg. This may be the first time a satellite provider from China will launch its services on the international market.
The CEO of SpaceSail has signed a memorandum of understanding with Brazilian telecommunications company Telecomunicacoes Brasileiras SA to study the demand for satellite Internet in regions without broadband. The document was signed during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Brazil - the leaders of the two countries will also sign a number of other partnership agreements.
Production of BYD electric cars and Oppo smartphones is also expected to begin in Brazil. SpaceSail will open a subsidiary in Brazil later this year and begin providing communications services two years later.
In August and October, SpaceSail launched two batches of 18 satellites into orbit; by the end of next year, the company intends to increase the size of the group to 600 devices and complete the first stage of its implementation. In October, representatives of the Brazilian government visited SpaceSail's headquarters.