The Manila government announced on March 31 that the Philippines will become the first country in Southeast Asia to receive broadband connectivity from Starlink, a satellite-based project provided by US billionaire innovator Elon Musk’s SpaceX. service.
SpaceX will establish a wholly-owned subsidiary in the country with the goal of deploying three gateways in the first phase of the launch.
Their respective business license applications are currently being processed, according to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, who did not specify a timeline for the project or the amount of investment.
It is understood that SpaceX has plans to expand further in Southeast Asia, where broadband internet coverage per cable or cell phone base station is often difficult, if not impossible.
Reach underserved areas with high-speed internet
In the Philippines, these areas are primarily targeted by Starlink, and the system will also enhance or supplement existing broadband capacity, Lopez said.
This will support and enhance the capabilities of MSMEs and facilitate online learning, e-commerce and fintech, he added.
SpaceX’s entry into the Philippines comes shortly after President Rodrigo Duterte signed legislation allowing up to 100 percent foreign ownership of Philippine public services, including telecommunications services.
Aim for global coverage
SpaceX’s Starlink project, which provides internet access via low-Earth orbit satellites, was launched by Elon Musk in 2015 and covers 29 countries simultaneously, with the goal of expanding coverage globally by 2027. To date, 2,335 Starlink satellites have been launched by SpaceX’s Falcon rockets, with 2,110 still in orbit.
Small satellites communicate with ground-based transceivers to provide high-speed Internet service at download speeds of 100 to 500 megabits per second.
The company’s broadband service has attracted around one million subscribers to date, with demand rising sharply during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is currently available in most EU member states, across North America, as well as in Brazil, Chile, Australia, New Zealand and Tonga. Elon Musk went further to make Starlink available to Ukrainian users in response to the Russian invasion in February, sending thousands of free base terminals to the war-torn country.
Illustration: Over the Philippines The Philippines will be the first country in Southeast Asia to receive a Starlink broadband connection, an item provided by US billionaire innovator Elon Musk’s SpaceX, to be announced in Manila on March 31. Satellite based services. SpaceX will have a wholly owned subsidiary in the country, with the goal of deploying three gateways in the first phase of the launch. Their respective business license applications are currently being processed, according to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, who did not specify a timeline or the amount of investment…
The Manila government announced on March 31 that the Philippines will become the first country in Southeast Asia to receive broadband connectivity from Starlink, a satellite-based project provided by US billionaire innovator Elon Musk’s SpaceX. service.
SpaceX will establish a wholly-owned subsidiary in the country with the goal of deploying three gateways in the first phase of the launch.
Their respective business license applications are currently being processed, according to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, who did not specify a timeline for the project or the amount of investment.
It is understood that SpaceX has plans to expand further in Southeast Asia, where broadband internet coverage per cable or cell phone base station is often difficult, if not impossible.
Reach underserved areas with high-speed internet
In the Philippines, these areas are primarily targeted by Starlink, and the system will also enhance or supplement existing broadband capacity, Lopez said.
This will support and enhance the capabilities of MSMEs and facilitate online learning, e-commerce and fintech, he added.
SpaceX’s entry into the Philippines comes shortly after President Rodrigo Duterte signed legislation allowing up to 100 percent foreign ownership of Philippine public services, including telecommunications services.
Aim for global coverage
SpaceX’s Starlink project, which provides internet access via low-Earth orbit satellites, was launched by Elon Musk in 2015 and covers 29 countries simultaneously, with the goal of expanding coverage globally by 2027. To date, 2,335 Starlink satellites have been launched by SpaceX’s Falcon rockets, with 2,110 still in orbit.
Small satellites communicate with ground-based transceivers to provide high-speed Internet service at download speeds of 100 to 500 megabits per second.
The company’s broadband service has attracted around one million subscribers to date, with demand rising sharply during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is currently available in most EU member states, across North America, as well as in Brazil, Chile, Australia, New Zealand and Tonga. Elon Musk went a step further by offering Starlink to Ukrainian users in response to the Russian invasion in February, sending thousands of free base terminals to the war-torn country.
