New contracts between satellite companies and telcos to reach remote areas in Colombia and Mexico

Claro’s Colombia unit and Altán in Mexico signed agreements in recent days with satellite companies to reach more localities with mobile services.

Mexican state-owned wholesale company Altán signed an agreement with Viasat to integrate their LTE and satellite technologies to provide cellular coverage in remote areas.

According to the US Department of Commerce, an estimated 30% of the Mexican population, some 38mn people, live in areas without broadband coverage.

This is not the first time that the Mexican State has chosen satellites to complement the mobile network to provide connectivity services.

State-owned CFE Telecomunicaciones e Internet de Todos (CFE-TEIT) has signed similar contracts with Apco Networks, Axess, GSAT, Next Telekom, SES, Tangerine Electronics, Televera Red, Viasat and Hispasat.

Last year, CFE-TEIT awarded Starlink two tenders to provide satellite links to the telecommunications project.

The Viasat service is available in 13 states in Mexico, providing cellular coverage to more than 150,000 people.

Starlink

Claro Colombia, meanwhile, announced a partnership with Starlink to offer a portfolio of business-grade satellite internet services focused on bringing connectivity to rural and remote areas.

The company will offer Starlink services in areas where there is currently no fixed network coverage.

Claro Colombia already has 500 Starlink antennas in operation with a government entity and a major financial firm, the company said in a statement.