Starlink by Elon Musk now in the Philippines

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has approved the application of Starlink Internet Services Philippines Inc. owned by American tech billionaire Elon Musk.

In the statement, the NTC said they have approved Starlink as a Value-Added Service (VAS) provider.

Starlink is part of Musk’s company’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp. low earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet technology.

Earlier, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced that the Philippines is the first country in Southeast Asia to use Starlink technology.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said they will close talks with SpaceX’s for the remainder of the Duterte administration which ends on June 30.

According to the NTC, with the registration of Starlink Internet Services Philippines’-the wholly-owned Filipino subsidiary, the company will be able to offer internet access services in the Philippine market in the coming months.

“Starlink Philippines’ VAS registration now allows the company to directly access satellite systems, build and operate broadband facilities to offer internet services,” the NTC said.

NTC added, Atty. Bien Marquez of Quisumbing Torres is the counsel of SpaceX, the agency in positively responding to Starlink’s VAS License.

“We would like to thank the NTC for issuing Starlink’s VAS license 30 minutes after we submitted our application with complete requirements. This shows the government’s seriousness in addressing the connectivity needs of our countrymen in unserved and underserved areas. This will also prepare us in the event of natural disasters and calamities, ”Marquez said, according to the NTC.

Related: PLDT all fiber cables upgrade.

NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba, on the other hand, believes that areas without internet access will also benefit from the Starlink technology.

“The NTC is steadfast in helping ensure that roll-out of Starlink’s internet access services will be done expeditiously and professionally,” Cordoba said.

According to the NTC, Starlink allegedly has a high speed low latency satellite internet service with download speeds ranging from 100 megabits per second (Mbps) to 200Mbps.

NTC added that with the help of Starlink, video calls, online gaming, streaming and other high data activities that “historically have not been possible with satellite internet” will be possible.

“Starlink is expected to cover villages in urban and suburban areas and rural areas that remain unserved or underserved with internet access services. The service is expected to bring cost effective internet access in these areas, ”the NTC continued.