A company owned by billionaire Elon Musk, Space X’s Starlink, has expressed interest in expanding operations in the Philippines, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.
The DTI in a statement on Monday said Secretary Cris Roque met with Space X executives in Los Angeles, California on March 5.
The parties discussed the possibility of expanding satellite broadband connectivity in the country, leveraging Starlink’s existing 100,000 plus subscribers and 13 gateway sites.
The DTI said Starlink did not specify the exact number of additional gateway sites and terminals it is building according to its ongoing nationwide expansion.
Starlink has been operating in the Philippines since February 2023, making the country the first Southeast Asian member to adopt the service.
The satellite-based Internet service by SpaceX offers high-speed access, especially in remote areas for residential, portable, and enterprises.
The DTI said Starlink aims to increase its presence in remote and underserved areas, particularly Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs).
The DTi added that Starlink is also working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to support government programs, such as the Free Wi-Fi Program and the Government Emergency Communications System (GECS) for disaster resilience.
The DTI said Starlink in the Philippines has 13 gateway sites and 30,000 deployed user terminals through its authorized reseller, Data Lake Inc. in GIDAs as well as local government units and educational institutions, facilitated through partnerships with the Philippine Space Agency.
Starlink kits have been made available at the malls since November 2023, the DTI said.
The DTI-Space X discussions highlighted potential human spaceflight opportunities, including the possibility of sending the first Filipino to outer space.
