Getting stranded without cell service in some of Ecuador’s most remote areas could soon become much less common.

Ecuador’s state-owned telecommunications company CNT has officially launched SatPower, a new mobile satellite service powered by Starlink that allows compatible smartphones to connect directly to satellites when traditional cellular coverage disappears.

The service launched through a partnership between CNT and Starlink, the satellite network operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

And you don’t need a satellite phone or a Starlink dish to use it.

Your Regular Phone Can Connect to Space

Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell technology essentially turns satellites orbiting Earth into cell towers in space.

When a compatible CNT phone leaves traditional mobile coverage — whether on a remote highway, high in the Andes, deep in the Amazon or out at sea — it can connect directly to the Starlink satellite network instead.

CNT says the initial service reaches more than 82% of Ecuador’s territory, with coverage expected to expand further.

That could be especially important in a country where geography makes building traditional cell towers difficult and expensive.

Ecuador has everything from mountains and rainforest to isolated rural communities and hundreds of kilometres of Pacific coastline.

WhatsApp and Google Maps From the Middle of Nowhere

There are some limitations.

SatPower isn’t designed to replace normal high-speed mobile internet.

For now, the satellite connection supports selected services including WhatsApp, Google Maps, X, AccuWeather, SMS and Ecuador’s ECU 911 emergency app. Users can send messages and, under certain conditions, photos, videos and files.

The service also requires a compatible LTE or 5G device and a clear view of the sky.

Coverage is expected to include remote roads, mountains, forests and maritime areas extending as far as 12 nautical miles from Ecuador’s coast.

That could make the technology particularly valuable for fishermen, travellers, farmers and people living in rural communities — and potentially during natural disasters when conventional communications infrastructure fails.

How Much Does It Cost?

CNT’s new mobile plans incorporating SatPower start at US$15.99 per month plus tax, while existing CNT customers can reportedly add satellite connectivity for approximately US$3 per month plus tax.

Ecuador says the rollout makes it the third Latin American country to offer Starlink-powered mobile satellite connectivity.

It’s a pretty remarkable technological jump.

For decades, leaving Ecuador’s cities could also mean leaving your cell signal behind.

Now, when the nearest cell tower is nowhere to be found, the next one might be hundreds of kilometres above your head. 🇪🇨🛰️📱