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Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service will soon be offered in the Philippines. It is currently in the processing of papers to be able to operate in the country.
Starlink is operated by SpaceX, and it provides internet access via satellite, so this will be the first of its kind in the Pearl of the Orient region. SpaceX is an aerospace company and one of those owned by the current richest man in the world.
According to Philstar, the upcoming arrival of the said satellite internet service in the Philippines will make the territory the first in Southeast Asia to be given access to SpaceX's Starlink. Users will be able to connect to the internet using the company's low earth orbit network constellation that is composed of more than 1,600 satellites.
"Preparations are underway for their registration," the country's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said in a statement. "At present, their application is being processed and the locations of their gateways are being visited."
Ramon Lopez, DTI's secretary, also said that SpaceX's Starlink would provide Filipinos with better internet connectivity and speed, which are the common complaints of subscribers of local internet service providers. Most of the locals said that they are not getting their money's worth from the subscriptions due to frequent service interruptions and very slow speeds.
The secretary further added that Filipinos in remote areas will also have access to the internet now as the satellite service can reach even the farthest locations. As part of the preparations for the entrance of Elon Musk's Starlink internet in the Philippines, the company is said to be establishing a local Filipino entity that will be SpaceX's wholly-owned subsidiary.
"Their system will augment, as well as complement existing broadband capacities. This will further capacitate micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), facilitate online learning, e-commerce, and fintech," Lopez said.
Meanwhile, CNN Philippines reported that the DTI chief already met with Starlink's senior executives Ryan Goodnight and Rebecca Hunter, Deputy commissioner Edgardo Cabarios of the National Telecommunications Commission, and Ramon Garcia Jr., executive chairman and founder at DFNN Group of Companies, to discuss about Starlink's service in the country. Finally, Lopez confirmed that with the new internet service, Filipinos will now have an option for faster broadband speed, more affordable rates, and better connectivity.
