Movistar Argentina launched Movistar Link, the service with which it formalized a strategic alliance with Starlink, becoming an authorized regional partner of the satellite services network of Starlink, the internet company of Elon Musk.
The Spanish company, which this year turned 100 years old and has had a local presence for 32 years, highlighted that after different successful connectivity trials carried out by the Movistar Network area team, “this collaboration is now a fact and will allow providing Internet “High-speed, low-latency broadband throughout the world, bringing connectivity to even the most remote areas of the country, with equipment suitable for outdoor and extreme conditions, as well as flexibility and mobility of the connection.”
Thus, from now on, Argentine companies located in areas where traditional infrastructure does not reach, will now be able to benefit from this advanced technology, enhancing their productivity and allowing them to compete on equal terms in the global market.
Movistar Link – which could incorporate more satellite operators into its services – offers national coverage with high connection speeds, between 220 and 40 Mbps downstream and 25 8 8 Mbps upstream, and low latency (between 30 and 80 ms). And it does so with two plans, whose prices will be known in the coming days: Fixed Priority (between 40 GB and 6TB) and Mobility (between 50 GB and 5 TB). The service targets companies and also activities that are carried out in areas far from urban centers, such as agriculture, mining and oil & gas. Starlink uses LEO satellites (Low Earth Orbit) located about 1,000 kilometers away.
Florence Rodriguez, B2B Marketing Manager at Movistar Empresas, assured that “satellite internet is here to stay and is a technology that will reduce the digital divide, beyond the issues of governments and products.” And she added that although commercial use was not enabled until February of this year due to regulatory issues, the company has been working for several months on this launch that was generated after a regional alliance with Musk’s company.
Rodríguez assured that the pre-sale of the service was successful and that he has more than 1,000 companies that were interested in hiring him.
Although Movistar Link will be more expensive than purchasing the antenna directly from Starlink and also from other local distributors that go to the final public – and where about $400,000 plus $62,500 per month are paid for the installation kit – the telco offers a differential service that It targets companies and includes a monitoring platform and insured spare parts stock, among other benefits. “Starlink is not prepared for the corporate sector, that is why it is important to have a global proposal,” he summarized. Mariano Sumberaz, Regional Commercial Head of TGS (Telefónica Global Solutions).
- Instalation and maintenance: The company’s technicians ensure that every aspect of the connection is in perfect condition, from installation to ongoing maintenance.
- Differential attention and support: It has a support team available 24×7 with 3 escalation levels, with proactive monitoring, where they address requirements and incidents.
- Possibility of having front end dedicated: the company offers a first-class user experience, to guarantee maximum customer satisfaction.
- Integration of adhoc solutions: There are specialized professionals at a technical and commercial level for the design and integration of Movistar Link with solutions such as IPSec, SDWAN, etc.
“The new service is transforming the way global connectivity is perceived, and operates through a network of thousands of small satellites in low orbit that work together to form an interconnected network. These satellites send and receive signals to ground stations, thus providing a high-speed Internet connection with low latency,” highlighted the local company.
To connect to Starlink, users will need to purchase a kit that includes a rectangular satellite dish (nicknamed “Dishy McFlatface“), a Wi-Fi router, a 6-meter power cable and a network cable. The antenna, designed to be installed outdoors – it resists heat, dirt, hail and even has an option to melt snow – automatically orients itself towards the satellites and is responsible for receiving and sending signals. The installation is simple and is designed so that any user can perform it.
Once the antenna is associated with a plan and a user, only the user can use it.
First, you should choose a location with a clear view of the sky, free of obstructions such as trees or buildings. Then, following the instructions in the app (the installation application is available on Google Play and Apple Store), connect the network cable to the antenna and the power cable to the router. Once turned on, the system will automatically search and connect to the satellite network.
The antenna needs a clear view of the sky in order to stay connected to the satellites. Objects that obstruct the connection between Starlink and the satellite, such as a tree branch, pole, or roof, will cause service interruptions. Step by step, as explained by the company, the process would be as follows:
- Download the Starlink app.
- Use the “Find Obstructions” tool to find an installation location that provides the best service.
- For best results, Starlink should be installed vertically.
- Place Starlink on the base and connect it to the power.
- Connect the devices to the network in the WiFi settings.
