Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz holds a press conference at the presidential palace in La Paz, Bolivia, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025.
Bolivia has taken a major step to modernize its digital infrastructure.
The government has lifted long-standing restrictions on foreign satellite internet providers.
This move aims to fix Bolivia’s slow connectivity and close the digital divide nationwide.
On Tuesday, President Rodrigo Paz signed a decree allowing global satellite internet companies to operate freely.
The decision opens the market to firms like Starlink and Amazon-backed Kuiper.
Officials say the reform will accelerate internet access across cities and remote regions alike.
Bolivia Satellite Internet Rules Get a Reset
The new decree removes limits imposed by the previous socialist administration.
Former president Luis Arce had blocked foreign satellite licenses on sovereignty concerns.
SpaceX’s Starlink was denied approval last year under those rules.
President Paz said the restrictions slowed innovation and isolated Bolivia digitally.
He argued that modern satellite internet is essential for economic recovery.
The decree now allows international operators to apply for licenses immediately.
Why Bolivia’s Internet Has Lagged for Years
Bolivia has struggled with weak and unreliable internet for more than a decade.
Rural regions face the worst access gaps and slowest speeds.
Even major cities report unstable mobile and broadband connections.
Past governments tried to solve the issue using state-owned satellite technology.
In 2013, Bolivia bought a communications satellite from China.
It was named Tupac Katari and launched with high expectations.
Tupac Katari Satellite Fell Short
The Tupac Katari satellite uses geostationary orbit technology.
It operates around 35,000 kilometers above Earth’s surface.
This distance causes higher latency and slower data transmission.
As a result, mobile and home internet speeds barely improved.
Video calls, streaming, and cloud services remained unreliable.
The project failed to deliver the promised digital transformation.
Starlink Technology Offers Faster Connectivity
Modern satellite internet systems work very differently.
Starlink satellites orbit Earth at about 550 kilometers.
This low-Earth orbit allows faster speeds and lower latency.
Experts say such systems are ideal for mountainous countries like Bolivia.
They can deliver high-speed internet without extensive ground infrastructure.
That advantage matters for remote Andean and Amazonian regions.
Bolivia Ranks Last in South America for Internet Speed
Bolivia’s poor performance is well documented.
A November report by Ookla ranked Bolivia last in South America.
The country placed bottom for both mobile and fixed broadband speeds.
By contrast, Brazil leads the region in internet performance.
The gap highlights Bolivia’s urgent need for infrastructure upgrades.
Officials see satellite internet as the fastest solution.
Closing the Digital Divide with Bolivia Satellite Internet
President Paz said the policy aims to ensure equal digital access.
He wants high-quality connectivity available across all regions.
Reducing the digital divide is a core government priority.
Slow internet affects daily life and business operations.
Basic video meetings often fail due to unstable connections.
Advanced services like cloud computing remain difficult to use.
Investment Plans and Economic Pressures
The government hopes the reform will attract global investors.
Paz said companies like Tesla, Amazon, Tether, and Oracle are interested.
They plan to invest in new data centers within Bolivia.
Proposed sites include El Alto and Cochabamba.
These investments could create jobs and boost digital capacity.
They may also help ease Bolivia’s ongoing economic crisis.
Protests Continue as Reforms Expand
Bolivia faces severe U.S. dollar shortages and strained public finances.
Earlier this week, Paz removed long-standing fuel subsidies.
The decision sparked nationwide protests led by labor unions.
Despite unrest, the president says reforms are necessary.
He insists Bolivia must catch up with global technological progress.
“With new technologies, we will recover lost time,” Paz said.
