As confirmed by LGUs and Elon Musk
Thanks to the continued discussions of the Philippine government and the interior Local Government Units (LGUs), Elon Musk’s Starlink is now confirmed to arrive in the Philippines!
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez announced that the Low Orbit Satellite service is to commence within the next three months!
“Preparations are underway for their registration,” the DTI said in a statement. “At present, their application is being processed and the locations of their gateways are being visited.”
The benefit of having satellite internet in the country is better and more flexible accessibility, an area in which the Philippines is notorious, for having poor telecommunications performance. It is faster than fiber connections and can reach even the most remote areas. SpaceX, the company behind Starlink will use Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites that directly connect you, the customer, to the internet.
SpaceX is currently being assisted by the Board of Investments during their processing of applications. While this is happening, the company is now projecting locations to which their gateways are being visited. This is to ensure that they could materialize before the current administration ends.
According to the DTI, the recent signing of the amended Public Service Act was a crucial point in SpaceX’s entry into the Philippines. This includes the full foreign ownership of telcos, railways, and airlines. SpaceX is also confident that they will have a growing consumer base once they land.
More competitions mean better service that would benefit consumers. They also have the freedom to choose if they aren’t satisfied with the service of their current telcos. Rumors suggest that some European telcos like Vodafone and Telenor are also interested in penetrating the Philippine market.
Source: PhilStar, NoypiGeeks
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