The rapprochement between Elon Musk and Fábio Faria constrains Anatel

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The possible alliance between the Brazilian government and billionaire Elon Musk for the connection of rural schools, especially in the Amazon, created embarrassment for advisors at Anatel (National Telecommunications Agency).

The agency is currently evaluating the application of the SpaceX company, which belongs to Musk. The businessman intends to use his constellation of nearly 5,000 low-orbit satellites to offer internet in Brazil, competing with the large telecommunications operators.

In addition to Musk, other companies are waiting for Anatel’s approval so that their low-orbit satellites can operate in Brazilian territory. They are Kepler, OneWeb, Swarm and Lightspeed.

On an international mission to the United States about 15 days ago, the Minister of Communications, Fábio Faria (PSD-RN), even posted a video with Elon Musk. In it, Faria advocated a partnership with SpaceX to connect schools in rural areas through its satellite constellation.

Commercial operation would begin in 2022, simultaneously with the arrival of 5G service in the country’s capitals.

On the trip, the minister also met representatives from OneWeb, which has 350 satellites and wants to reach 500 next year.

In all, the five companies interested in operating in Brazil must use at least 4,800 low-altitude satellites to sell internet in places where telecoms do not reach today, especially to the poorest.

Upon arriving from his trip, Faria scheduled a meeting with Anatel’s advisors. By videoconference, he reported his conversations with the companies.

Despite not having applied direct pressure, some councilors assessed that the prior announcement of a partnership between the government and Musk’s company caused embarrassment, since it is up to Anatel to decide whether or not there is technical feasibility for providing this service.

The offer of internet for this type of equipment is a new service all over the world. Regulation is beginning to be defined in several countries where these companies intend to operate. In Brazil, the regulation was recently approved by Anatel and provides that low-orbit equipment be treated like the others, particularly geostationary ones.

Geostationary equipment is launched more than 35 thousand kilometers from the surface and remains stationary over Brazilian territory, following the Earth’s movement. There are medium and low orbit satellites — these are about 570 kilometers above the ground.

The only requirement imposed by Anatel’s regulation is that low-orbit companies present complete technical studies that allow coordination between the other satellites.

According to the agency’s advisers, the problem now, with low-orbit satellites, is to know what exactly this coordination would be.

Anatel technicians claim that there was a request from direct advisors to Minister Fábio Faria for “speed” in this evaluation process.

The technical area understands that there is no need for complete studies, but for analysis of the compatibility between other equipment. All equipment needs to talk to each other without interference.

The problem with SpaceX’s satellite constellation, called Starlink, is that these devices will fly over at low altitude and can interfere with the reception of signals from geostationary satellites of other telecommunications companies.

This could create fierce competition between telecommunications giants and satellite companies.

The AEB (Brazilian Space Agency), which manages orbital space over the country, is also concerned that by allowing so many low-altitude satellites to travel over the country, it could create a barrier to future launches of larger equipment that need to be launched more than 35 thousand kilometers from the ground. The space agency has already exposed these concerns to Anatel.

The cases under analysis at Anatel are paralyzed, waiting for a solution to this impasse. Councilor Vicente Aquino is the rapporteur of the SpaceX request and Moisés Moreira takes care of the Amazon case. These are the two biggest in the business.

Privately, some advisers assess that, by having released the video in which he promotes the partnership, Faria takes the responsibility for Anatel if, eventually, there are restrictions or even a ban on these companies operating in the country.

TO sheet, the minister denied any kind of pressure. “My objective was simply to tell the board members what I had seen and what I had talked about with the companies,” he said. “I didn’t ask for anything at all.”

Faria also denied having asked for a more flexible regulation of satellites to speed up the entry of Elon Musk and its competitors in Brazil.

“Neither I nor Arthur [Coimbra, secretário de Telecomunicações] we asked for nothing. No adviser has said he has been embarrassed so far.”

Faria explained that, during the meeting, he informed that it is the responsibility of the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) to define satellite launches.

In fact, the ITU decides on satellites, but only geostationary ones. It is up to each country to define how its orbital space will be occupied by low or medium altitude equipment.

“The entry of these new companies will bring competition and will allow not only the offer of internet and the connection of schools and even indigenous communities in the Amazon, but also the detection of fires.”

The government already has a similar system. But, according to the minister, Musk’s satellites have more sophisticated laser technology, which captures sound signals from fires.

“What is at stake with these partnerships is the offer of internet where the big ones don’t reach.”

When contacted, the AEB informed, through its assistance, that it is dealing with the matter with Anatel.

“This issue is an international concern and there is no established consensus,” he said. “The best efforts will be made with a focus on preserving Brazilian interests and the possibilities of meeting the demands of Brazilian society, through the use of space systems.”

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