# Starlink Rival AST SpaceMobile Strikes Deal With Brazil’s Brisanet and Unifique for Satellite-to-Phone Services *The agreement, which also includes Iez! Telecom, aims to bring voice calls, mobile broadband and video streaming directly to ordinary smartphones, positioning Brazil’s regional carriers in an emerging market increasingly contested by SpaceX.* - Published: 2026-10-23 - Section: Insights - URL: https://brazilstockguide.com/insights/ast-spacemobile-brisanet-unifique-starlink-brazil/ ![](https://i0.wp.com/brazilstockguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/AST.jpg?fit=4000%2C2247&ssl=1) **By Brazil Stock Guide —** The race to bring satellite connectivity directly to mobile phones is heating up in Brazil. Regional telecom operators Brisanet (B3: BRST3), Unifique and Iez! Telecom announced on Friday (October 23) a commercial agreement with US-based AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS), a leading challenger to Elon Musk’s Starlink in the emerging market for direct satellite-to-smartphone communications. The partnership aims to enable voice calls, mobile broadband and video streaming on ordinary smartphones without external antennas, dedicated applications or modifications to existing devices. Known as *Direct-to-Device* (D2D), the technology could significantly expand coverage across rural communities, highways and remote areas where conventional mobile infrastructure is limited or nonexistent. Under the agreement, the three Brazilian operators will provide access to their 700 MHz spectrum holdings and invest in the ground infrastructure required to connect their mobile networks to AST SpaceMobile’s satellite constellation through terrestrial gateways. Financial terms, deployment schedules and other definitive conditions remain under negotiation. “The partnership with AST SpaceMobile complements our network and allows us to extend connectivity beyond the reach of our terrestrial infrastructure, offering customers access to voice and mobile broadband services in more locations using the smartphones they already own,” said **José Roberto Nogueira, Brisanet’s founder and CEO**, in a regulatory filing. He added that the agreement would secure Brisanet’s place in the future of connectivity. #### A different approach to challenging Starlink Headquartered in Texas and listed on Nasdaq, AST SpaceMobile is developing a low-Earth-orbit satellite network designed to operate as an extension of existing cellular networks. The company has announced agreements and partnerships with more than 60 mobile operators collectively serving approximately 3 billion subscribers worldwide. Its strategic partners include AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone and Japan’s Rakuten. Its business model differs in important respects from SpaceX’s strategy. While AST SpaceMobile primarily positions itself as an infrastructure provider to established telecom carriers, Starlink combines partnerships with mobile operators and plans to develop its own terrestrial mobile network in the United States. In October, SpaceX announced an agreement to acquire 800 MHz spectrum in the US market, underscoring its ambitions to compete more directly with major wireless carriers. Starlink, however, enjoys a substantial lead in operational scale. Its satellite constellation already supports commercial internet services across numerous markets and includes hundreds of satellites equipped for direct-to-cell communications. AST SpaceMobile remains in the earlier stages of building out its space infrastructure. In August, the company reported having 13 satellites in orbit and outlined plans for additional launches to expand coverage and improve service continuity. The difference is also apparent in their financial positions. AST SpaceMobile generated $31.5 million in revenue in the second quarter of 2026, primarily from infrastructure-related activities and government contracts. The company reported approximately $1.3 billion in contracted revenue commitments and government orders, alongside an adjusted cash position exceeding $3.7 billion following a July financing. Despite that financial backing, building a global satellite constellation remains a capital-intensive undertaking, with significant technological, regulatory and execution risks. #### Brazil becomes a new battleground The agreement with AST SpaceMobile comes as Starlink also advances its ambitions in Brazil’s emerging direct-to-cell market. Vivo, one of Brazil’s largest mobile operators, is participating in an experimental program authorized by the country’s telecommunications regulator, Anatel, with Starlink identified as a technology partner. In September, the regulator extended the temporary authorization through April 2029. However, a broad commercial direct-to-cell offering is not yet available to Vivo customers in Brazil. For Brisanet, Unifique and Iez!, the partnership offers an opportunity to extend the reach of their networks without relying exclusively on the construction of additional cell towers. It could also strengthen the competitive position of regional carriers against Brazil’s larger national operators, although the potential impact on revenue, operating costs and market share remains difficult to quantify. The central uncertainties concern the speed of deployment and the economics of the service. Turning satellites into a commercially viable complement to terrestrial mobile networks requires sufficient transmission capacity, continuous coverage, regulatory approvals and seamless integration with operators’ existing infrastructure. Direct-to-cell technology also faces physical limitations involving signal strength and network capacity, particularly indoors and in densely populated urban areas. AST SpaceMobile’s entry into Brazil adds a new dimension to the competition for connectivity. Beyond traditional satellite broadband, companies such as AST and Starlink are competing to provide the infrastructure that could keep consumers connected even beyond the reach of conventional cellular towers. --- Source: Brazil Stock Guide, https://brazilstockguide.com/insights/ast-spacemobile-brisanet-unifique-starlink-brazil/