SpaceX has announced that its low-earth satellite broadband internet service, Starlink, is now operational in the Philippines. Utilizing a network of low-earth orbit satellites, Starlink aims to provide connectivity to remote areas that are out of reach of traditional fiber-based connectivity.
During the previous administration, Starlink worked closely with regulators and the government to bring its services to the country. The National Telecommunications Commission, former Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology have all given their support to the initiative.
In a tweet written in the local language, SpaceX announced that “Starlink is now available in the Philippines,” along with a link to an order form for interested parties. However, potential users should note that satellite internet services tend to be more expensive than traditional connections.
According to the order form, residents of Quezon City can avail of Starlink internet for a monthly fee of P2,700, plus a one-time hardware fee of P29,320 (excluding shipping costs), and can expect download speeds of between 50-200 Mbps. It is worth noting that the published monthly rate is lower than the P5,500 per month fee that was previously announced by the DICT.
SpaceX has also stated that there are no contracts and that the service comes with a 30-day trial period. Shipping of the necessary hardware is expected to take 2-3 weeks after the order has been placed.
Back in October of last year, Data Lake Inc partnered with SpaceX’s Starlink to offer high-speed, low-latency broadband internet in the Philippines. The partnership was led by billionaire Henry Sy Jr. and businessman Anthony Almeda.