Chile becomes first in Latin America to launch Starlink satellite texting

Entel, Chile’s national carrier, has launched satellite-powered mobile connectivity across the country. The service uses Starlink Direct to Cell, allowing customers to send and receive SMS messages. Chile is the first in Latin America to offer this technology. The new service covers most of mainland Chile, including areas up to 12 nautical miles offshore. It does not extend to Antarctica or the Chilean Atlantic territory. Users need only a compatible 4G or 5G phone with roaming and VoLTE enabled to access it.

Starlink Direct to Cell is already available in parts of the U.S., Canada, and Europe. In Ukraine, it is operational, while the UK’s Virgin Media O2 plans to introduce it in early 2026. SpaceX intends to expand the network by deploying up to 15,000 next-generation satellites to improve coverage and capacity.

Entel includes the service in its 150 GB, 450 GB, and Entel Black plans. Internet browsing and data services are expected to follow in 2026. The rollout marks a significant step for mobile connectivity in Chile. Customers on select plans can now use satellite texting without extra hardware. Future updates will bring additional features like data access.