Bolivia’s new government has issued a decree allowing international satellite internet providers such as Starlink and Kuiper to operate nationwide, reversing limits set by the prior administration. Officials say low-Earth-orbit satellites can deliver faster, lower-latency service than the older Tupac Katari geostationary satellite. The move aims to reduce the digital divide and attract investment in data centers near El Alto and Cochabamba amid broader economic reforms and public protests over fuel-subsidy cuts.
Bolivia Opens Door to Starlink, Kuiper and Other Satellite ISPs to Tackle Slow Internet
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz holds a press conference at the presidential palace in La Paz, Bolivia, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
La Paz — Bolivia’s new government has issued a presidential decree allowing international satellite internet providers, including SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Kuiper, to operate nationwide as part of a push to modernize the country’s networks and reduce chronically slow connectivity.
Centrist President Rodrigo Paz signed the measure overturning restrictions imposed by the previous socialist administration led by Luis Arce. Arce’s government had denied a license to SpaceX last year, citing concerns about data protection and national sovereignty.
Why Satellites Matter
Bolivia previously relied on a domestically controlled Chinese satellite, the Tupac Katari, purchased in 2013. That satellite uses geostationary technology and orbits roughly 35,000 kilometers (about 21,800 miles) above Earth, which produces relatively high latency and limits improvements for mobile and household broadband speeds.
By contrast, modern low-Earth-orbit (LEO) systems deployed by Starlink and other competitors operate much closer to the planet — typically around 550 kilometers (about 340 miles) — which substantially reduces latency and enables faster data transmission for everyday and advanced online uses.
Connectivity Snapshot
An Ookla report published in November found Bolivia recorded the slowest mobile and fixed broadband speeds in South America, while Brazil led the region in connectivity performance. Slow connections in Bolivia hinder routine tasks like conference calls and make advanced online activities, such as cloud computing, more difficult.
“We became spectators while the rest of the world advanced,” President Paz said. “But that is over. With new technologies we will be able to make up for lost time.”
Investment and Economic Context
Paz said the licensing change is intended to “reduce the digital divide” and ensure broader access to higher-quality internet across the country. He also announced that international firms — including Tesla, Amazon, Tether and Oracle — plan to invest in data centers Bolivia intends to build near El Alto and Cochabamba.
The policy shift is part of a broader effort to attract foreign investment as the government confronts an economic crisis marked by acute U.S. dollar shortages. Earlier this week, Paz signed a separate decree removing longstanding fuel subsidies; that decision has prompted nationwide protests led by labor unions.
What Comes Next: The decree opens the door for licensing negotiations, infrastructure planning and regulatory oversight to ensure data protection and national security concerns are addressed while improving access and speeds for Bolivians nationwide.
