Elon Musk’s SpaceX is bringing its Starlink satellite broadband services to the Philippines, the first country in Southeast Asia to have it.
The news came from Philippine Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez who earlier mentioned that SpaceX is working on its business permit application as it also scouts for potential locations for its gateway.
SpaceX will put up a local Filipino entity that is its wholly-owned subsidiary, benefitting from the recently ratified RA 11659 that allows softer restrictions on foreign ownership of telecommunications businesses. The company is targeting to deploy three gateways in its first phase of operation.
The company offers broadband services delivered via its network of over 1,600 low orbit satellites that can reach remote areas in the Philippines.
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“Their system will augment as well as complement existing broadband capacities. This will further capacitate micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), facilitate online learning, e-commerce and fintech,” Lopez adds.
Having another telecommunications company is good for the industry that can lead to improvements in services and boost innovation.
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