Marcos eyes Starlink ties to boost PH connectivity
President Marcos has vowed that Filipinos will soon be able to look at slow internet connection as a thing of the past as he eyes entering into a partnership with satellite internet constellation Starlink to improve connectivity in the Philippines.
Marcos revealed this following a tour of the facilities of Spacex, an American aerospace company that operates Starlink.
Spacex President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell and Spacex Vice President for Starlink Operations Lauren Dreyer welcomed the President during the facility visit. Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan Uy accompanied him on his visit.
In his speech during his meeting with the Filipino community in Los Angeles, California, the President expressed confidence that the links he has established during his trip to the
US will result in the country's "slow" internet becoming a thing of the past.
"In the Philippines, sometimes we still hear about 'mahina 'yung internet (the connection is weak),' but in the near future, through these links that we were able to develop on this trip, we are very confident that we will no longer hear complaints about our internet, our online services," he said.
"We will instead be hearing phrases for the speed of our country's internet connectivity," he added.
According to Marcos, the Philippines was an ideal candidate for satellite broadband as he envisioned a reliable internet speed in the Philippines.
"Ang ating – pitong libo ang ating isla (Our 7,000 islands), that vast archipelago is an ideal candidate for satellite broadband service, and we look forward to improving broadband connectivity in the Philippines through Starlink and through all the others," he said.
The President emphasized that an existing satellite for communications was already being designed for the Philippines, which is expected to boost the country's connectivity and increase people's productivity.
He said that the government was also hoping to take full advantage of the new technologies to provide solutions to the challenges that the new era of digitalization brings.
"Kaya ay hinahanap namin lahat ng pamamaraan (That's why we're looking for ways) to take full advantage of the new technologies that are available to us that will increase the productivity of our people," Marcos said.
President Marcos said he has ordered DICT Secretary Uy to ensure the project would push through as he emphasized the need to adopt and recognize the appropriate technology and bring it to the Philippines.
Starlink's satellite internet is touted to have a significant advantage with respect to connecting to areas that are difficult to reach, like rural communities and island provinces and barangays.