Anatel extends Vivo satellite-to-phone permit to 2029

Brazil's National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) extended Telefônica Brasil's authorization for direct-to-device (D2D) satellite mobile connectivity until 22 April 2029. Act No. 11,334, published in the federal official gazette on Wednesday, 16 September, replaces an earlier permit granted in July that was set to run from 19 July until 22 October 2026.

The extension covers the entire Brazilian territory and allows commercial exploitation within the regulatory sandbox. Anatel's board had decided in August to lengthen the pilot program and allow commercial testing without caps on mobile stations, acting on a request submitted by Telefônica Brasil in June. The operator had stated that the previous timeframe was insufficient to complete representative trials.

Under the published terms, the operations maintain operating frequencies of 2,567.5 MHz and 2,687.5 MHz, each with a 5 MHz bandwidth and a maximum transmission power of 100 W. Operations will run on a secondary basis under the Private Limited Service (SLP), meaning Telefônica Brasil receives no protection against harmful interference and must immediately halt transmissions if it disrupts authorized communication networks.

Telefônica Brasil, owner of the Vivo brand, has been in discussions with SpaceX to provide direct connections using Starlink satellites in Brazil, though neither company has commented publicly. SpaceX notified the US Federal Communications Commission in July that it obtained clearance to begin device communications in Brazil, while requesting confidentiality regarding its partner operator, frequencies, and coverage zones.