On June 12, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and telecommunications operator Vrio announced plans to launch satellite internet services in seven South American countries, directly competing with Elon Musk's Starlink.

Vrio, a U.S. company responsible for the Latin American operations of Sky Brasil and DirecTV, serves consumers in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia.

Amazon's "Project Kuiper," founded by a former Starlink employee, aims to provide internet access via satellites in low Earth orbit.

Werthein cited World Bank data indicating that internet access is severely limited for approximately 200 million residents in Latin America, with many lacking connectivity altogether. Moreover, the region faces significant challenges in large-scale infrastructure investments due to its geological and topographical conditions.

According to the schedule for Project Kuiper, the service is expected to commence by mid-2025, with Argentina slated for the initial rollout.

Bruno Henriques, head of business development for Project Kuiper in Latin America, stated, "Over the coming months, the company will introduce plans to launch 3,236 satellites, aiming to provide equal internet access to all consumers, whether they reside in urban, suburban, or rural areas."

In 2019, Amazon announced a $10 billion investment for this initiative.