Elon Musk’s satellite-based internet service, Starlink, is set to launch in the Philippines soon, with the goal of bringing high-speed internet to rural areas.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Authority of Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) made agreements with SpaceX, bidding for colossal changes to the country’s internet, in March.

The project began with the country and SpaceX discussing Starlink’s plan to put up a Philippine-registered company that will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of SpaceX Exploration Technologies Corp, a US corporation, in November 2021.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. or SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, is a spacecraft and rocket designing company responsible for setting satellites up in orbit, eyes the country with satellite internet.

Following the senate ratification in December 2021, an update session was held in February and another in early March to discuss their plans in the Philippines regarding PSA’s amendment.

DTI and AFAB worked simultaneously with the project in March, following the planned establishment of SpaceX to provide the country with its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network constellation called ‘Starlink’.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez assisted SpaceX in the planned establishment of the country, which will provide internet services in the Philippines using its LEO.

AFAB meets with SpaceX and its team, discussing how vital connectivity is to Bataan and FAB in the near future, as well as ensuring that Bataan becomes the initial area of operations for LEO, presenting the pros of choosing FAB.

AFAB then meets with SpaceX again, this time, talking about the initial location of SpaceX’s Southeast Asian Operations, aiming for the FAB, in the town of Mariveles, on April 12.

Should plans go well between the country and SpaceX, the Philippines will become the first Southeast Asian country to avail of high-speed satellite broadband connectivity.

Photo Credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUiBxjHl3oZ/

Source: https://boi.gov.ph/boi-meets-with-prospective-investor-spacex-starlink-to-expand-internet-reach-in-the-philippines/, https://www.dti.gov.ph/news/ph-first-country-southeast-asia-spacex/, https://afab.gov.ph/afab-advances-another-step-to-become-an-offshore-digital-financial-center/, https://afab.gov.ph/afab-bataan-continues-talks-with-spacex/, https://finex.org.ph/2022/04/12/bataan-freeport-eyed-by-elon-musks-spacex/