The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has approved the application of Starlink Internet Services Philippines Inc., owned by American tech billionaire Elon Musk.
The NTC said they had approved Starlink as a Value-Added Service (VAS) provider.
Starlink is part of Elon Musk’s company’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp.’s low earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet technology.
Earlier, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced that the Philippines was the first country in Southeast Asia to use Starlink technology.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said they would close talks with SpaceX 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.
NTC approves Starlink by Elon Musk in the Philippines
“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.
NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba, on the other hand, believes that areas without internet access will also benefit from Elon Musk’s Starlink technology.
“The NTC is steadfast in helping ensure that roll-out of Starlink’s internet access services will be done expeditiously and professionally,” said Cordoba.
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.
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