The Philippine government aims to enhance its partnership with the US-based space technology company SpaceX to broaden satellite broadband access in the country through Starlink, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque met with SpaceX and Starlink executives in Hawthorne, California on March 5 to discuss the potential expansion of satellite broadband connectivity in the Philippines, which will improve e-governance, e-commerce services, and digital learning in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
“Internet connectivity is no longer a luxury —it’s a necessity. With Starlink’s cutting-edge satellite technology, we can ensure that even the most geographically isolated communities in the Philippines have access to fast and reliable internet,” Roque said.
The satellite internet constellation Starlink is a wholly owned subsidiary of SpaceX and was first launched in the Philippines in 2023, which now boasts over 100,000 subscribers and 13 gateway sites.
It has also been reported that the space tech company expressed interest in the opportunity for a Filipino to participate in its human spaceflight program, potentially sending the first person from the Philippines into space.
The Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) law and the proposed Konektadong Pinoy Act are also seen as attracting high-tech foreign investments to the country.