LTE Broadband Service over Satellite Introduced in Mexico
Viasat and Altán Collaborate on the Effort
An innovative home and mobile broadband service will be launched in Mexico through a cooperation agreement between Viasat and Altán. Under the agreement, Viasat will collaborate with Altán, the Mexican telecommunications wholesaler, to integrate Viasat's satellite and wireless LTE technologies with Altán's shared mobile network and provide cellular coverage for consumers in previously uncovered areas across Mexico.
"With this service, we are fueling digital inclusion."
Hector Rivero, Viasat
Viasat's service is available today in 13 states across Mexico, providing cellular coverage to more than one hundred and fifty thousand individuals, enabling them to take advantage of internet connectivity.
Viasat's innovative service seamlessly combines cutting-edge satellite and wireless systems to provide LTE over satellite via a cost-efficient, power-independent, wireless LTE infrastructure. The company's ultra-low-cost wireless LTE towers are strategically positioned across Mexico's most remote areas, providing access to connectivity in regions with cellular coverage that until now had been minimal or non-existent. While some LTE towers utilize solar panels as a backup power source, others are entirely solar-powered, ensuring that hard-to-reach communities remain connected even when disconnected from the main power grid.
This collaboration aims to expand the availability of high-speed broadband to remote communities throughout Mexico. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration, approximately 30 percent of Mexico's population—more than 38 million people—live in areas without broadband access.
In an effort to bring connectivity to remote communities in Mexico, Viasat launched the Mexico Ambassador Program in 2021. The program partners with local representatives, mostly women, to share knowledge and expertise in areas connected by Viasat technology. By training the ambassadors in developing digital skills, the program promotes gender equality and digital inclusion.
"Viasat is revolutionizing Mexican communities by providing fast, reliable, secure, affordable, and high-quality internet access," said Hector Rivero, general manager of Mexico broadband at Viasat. "With this service, we are fueling digital inclusion and empowering teachers and students with educational resources, improving healthcare through telemedicine, facilitating communication for families separated by migration, and stimulating local commerce with digital tools."