The Philippines will soon be able to go online via satellite thanks to the announcement by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) that Space Exploration Technologies Corp., SpaceX is establishing its operations in the country.
SpaceX is scheduled to formally start operations in the Philippines during the last three months of the Duterte administration, according to DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.
Lopez recently met with Rebecca Hunter, SpaceX’s senior manager for government affairs, and Ryan Goodnight, SpaceX’s director of market access. Because SpaceX’s technologies are proprietary, the signing of the modified Public Service Act (PSA), which authorizes 100 percent foreign ownership of public services in the country, was a crucial component in the company’s choice to invest.
SpaceX is scheduled to formally start operations in the Philippines during the last three months of the Duterte administration, according to DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.
Lopez recently met with Rebecca Hunter, SpaceX’s senior manager for government affairs, and Ryan Goodnight, SpaceX’s director of market access. Because SpaceX’s technologies are proprietary, the signing of the modified Public Service Act (PSA), which authorizes 100 percent foreign ownership of public services in the country, was a crucial component in the company’s choice to invest.
SpaceX plans to use Starlink, a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network constellation with over 1,600 satellites currently in orbit, to deliver internet services in the Philippines. This will be useful in locations where traditional mobile and fiber internet are not readily available.
“Their solution will both augment and complement present broadband capabilities.” This would help micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs), as well as online learning, e-commerce, and finance, Lopez explained.
