13 July 2022

The Philippines has approved plans that will see it become the first country in southeast Asia to access SpaceX’s Starlink broadband services.

Starlink Internet Services Philippines, a subsidiary of Elon Musk’s SpaceX, will provide the satellite broadband to the archipelago.

In a statement, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said approved Starlink’s registration as a “value-added service (VAS) provider,” enabling the company to “directly access satellite systems and build and operate broadband facilities to offer internet services.”

“The NTC is steadfast in helping ensure that roll-out of Starlink’s internet access services will be done expeditiously and professionally,” NTC commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said in a statement. “The NTC’s swift processing of Starlink’s VAS provider registration was meant to expedite the service’s immediate roll-out.”

Cordoba said Starlink is expected to cover villages in urban and suburban areas and rural regions in the Philippines that remain unserved or underserved with internet access services.

The country’s internet penetration was 67% of the country’s 110 million population as of January 2021, according to data from independent data collector, DataReportal.

Starlink’s arrival comes after president Rodrigo Duterte signed legislation March 21 that allows up to 100% foreign ownership of public services in the Philippines.