Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) secretary Ivan John E. Uy made a glowing endorsement of the Starlink satellite broadband service during a joint press briefing with US tech firm SpaceX on Wednesday, July 27, at the Manila Hotel.
SpaceX is setting up a local business entity that will provide Internet service through low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites and is targeting to launch the first gateway for their satellites before June 30.
SpaceX is currently establishing a local Filipino entity that will be their wholly-owned subsidiary and is targeting to deploy three gateways in the first phase of their launch.
The Philippine government had a series of follow-up online meetings with the company, immediately following the Senate ratification of the proposed amendments to the Public Service Act (PSA), allowing full foreign ownership for satellite Internet services in the country and not requiring legislative franchise for public services.
Converge ICT founder and CEO Dennis Anthony Uy said the company is in close coordination with SpaceX but is also talking to a number of satellite broadband providers.
Addressing news stories of its reported partnership with SpaceX, listed broadband provider Converge ICT said on Monday, Feb. 15, that is still “very premature” to discuss a deal to become the local partner for the US aerospace firm’s Starlink satellite broadband project.
Fiber broadband provider Converge ICT will make a formal announcement on Monday, Feb. 15, on the reported deal it has struck to become the local partner of SpaceX for its ambitious Starlink satellite broadband project.
During the virtual meeting last December 28, 2020, Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said SpaceX vice president for satellite government affairs Patricia Cooper mentioned the possibility of Starlink covering the Philippines by the third quarter of 2021.
