Starlink has launched its direct-to-cell service in Ecuador, enabling standard smartphones to connect to satellites without extra hardware. The service operates in partnership with the state-owned telecommunications provider CNT_EC.
The initiative targets regions lacking reliable cellular coverage, including coastal, mountainous, and forested areas. Currently, the satellite network covers 82.4% of the country's landmass and extends to 12 nautical miles offshore.
This launch follows previous collaborations between SpaceX and CNT, which included deploying fixed satellite internet access on the Galapagos Islands. Ecuador is now among the first Latin American nations to adopt this technology.
The regional rollout began in November 2025 in Chile, where operator Entel introduced Starlink Direct-to-Cell for text messaging in remote areas. Shortly after, SpaceX and the operator +Móvil launched the service in Panama.
