Starlink Philippines update: Latest news, prices, and details

Starlink is a satellite internet provider operated by controversial billionaire Elon Musk through his Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX).

Starlink, Musk’s internet-from-space venture, was set to enter the Philippine market and compete with other providers in December 2022.

Many in the country, particularly those in the IT industry, anticipated the move as a welcome change. 

With the initial hit of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Philippines’ lackluster internet and telecommunications infrastructures were once again put in the spotlight.

The rise of online jobs and remote work setups emphasized the need for better internet services in the country.

To this end, the Philippines’ Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) tapped Musk’s SpaceX to help solve the country’s internet connectivity woes.

The DICT met with SpaceX officials in November 2021 to discuss the possibility of Starlink Philippines, a Philippine-registered company that would be a wholly-owned subsidiary of SpaceX.

However, developments necessitated the company’s Philippine debut to be moved to the first quarter of 2023.

About Starlink

Starlink is a satellite constellation-based internet provider operated by SpaceX.

It’s both a division within SpaceX and the name of the company’s growing network of artificial satellites orbiting the Earth.

In contrast with other internet providers that rely on cable technology (e.g., fiber optics), Starlink transmits internet data to its users using low-orbiting satellites and radio signals.

However, Starlink isn’t the only internet provider to use the space’s vacuum for internet data transmission.

Other companies, such as Viasat, Amazon, OneWeb, and HughesNet, have also been on the scene for quite some time.

What makes Starlink different from other satellite internet providers is its use of thousands of small satellites instead of several large ones.

Despite being less cost-effective than large satellites, Starlink is able to use its fleet of small satellites thanks to being a part of SpaceX, an aerospace company.

Starlink Philippines

Starlink Philippines is the Philippine government’s hope for providing internet access to the country’s far-flung areas.

With Starlink’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, remote areas previously unreachable by existing telecommunication infrastructures can now be connected to the internet.

Starlink’s connectivity can reach a download speed of over 200 Mbps with latency as low as 20.

DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy hailed this as “game change changing technologies … perfect for our archipelago [the Philippines] … and will definitely significantly bridge the digital divide that plagues many countries … like ours that are divided by large swatches of water.”

Starlink was supposed to enter the Philippine market by December 2022. However, its entry date was moved to the first quarter of 2023 due to delays caused by the launching of Starlink’s over 4,000 satellites.

Rebecca Hunter, SpaceX’s Senior Manager for Government Affairs, announced back in July that the company would be selling SpaceX satellite dishes to the Philippines by December.

Business tycoon Henry Sy Jr.’s Laguna-based DataLake Inc. is among the third-party providers SpaceX is eyeing to resell and deploy the company’s services in the Philippines.

Should it push through, the Philippines will be the first country in Southeast Asia to avail of SpaceX’s services.

Starlink satellite internet service Philippines prices

Understandably, Starlink’s space-based internet doesn’t come cheap.

SpaceX offers its equipment at USD 599 or Php 33,482 per unit – a hefty sum, especially for people in remote areas.

Meanwhile, its internet connectivity service is priced at USD 99 or Php 5,535 monthly—not a cheap price either.

The DICT assured that the government would shoulder the costs of connecting residents of remote areas to Starlink. These communities would then be monitored until their collective income went up, at which point the expenses could be passed on to them.

Yugatech, the Philippines’ largest and oldest tech site, also shared pricing schemes shared by one of the site’s readers.

These prices aren’t the same as those with the government’s deal with SpaceX but are intended for businesses and shipping lines.

Starlink Enterprise KIT

Php 176,176 (starter kit plus taxes)

Php 3,824 (Data Lake and local handling fees)

Php 21,600 (VAT)

TOTAL: Php 201,600

Starlink Maritime KIT

Php 644,376.99 (starter kit plus taxes)

Php 5,624 (Data Lake and local handling fees)

Php 78,000 (VAT)

TOTAL: Php 728,000

It’s worth noting that the prices quoted above are not inclusive of installation service fees and travel costs for the technicians who install the equipment.

[February 22, 2023] Starlink internet services updates – now available

On February 22, Elon Musk’s SpaceX announced that its satellite internet service, Starlink, is now live in the Philippines. But there is no official announcement yet on the actual launch of the service and the release of Starlink kits.

Further, users can now go to Starlink’s website to check the availability of the satellite internet service in their area.

Upon inputting the address, the order form will show the price that users will have to pay. If you’re ordering around the Ortigas, Pasig area, you will be asked to pay PHP2,700/month for service and PHP29,320 for hardware.

Starlink was supposed to enter the Philippines in December 2022 but faced some delays. Now, the Philippines is the first country in Southeast Asia to welcome Musk’s high-speed satellite internet venture.

[August, 2024] Starlink high-speed internet connecting remote locations in the Philippines

This section provides a quick rundown of the most recent news about Starlink Philippines as of August 2024.

It covers the significant developments shaping the future of internet access across the archipelago, from new partnerships and groundbreaking deals to advancements in rural connectivity.

RCBC utilizes Starlink for Digital ATM Access in far-fetched areas

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) has utilized Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet to expand its RCBC ATM Go network. A quarter of its over 6,000 agents rely on the technology.

This digital service allows users to perform banking functions such as deposits, withdrawals, transfers, bill payments, mobile loading, and claiming remittances and government aid.

RCBC ATM Go, in partnership with local entrepreneurs, grassroots organizations, and government agencies, has achieved extensive coverage across the Philippines, including all 82 provinces and most towns.

Starlink’s global reach, covering 99 countries and recently launched in Indonesia, has been key in connecting underserved areas.

The Philippine government, under President Bongbong Marcos, plans to further enhance rural internet connectivity through Starlink, following its successful deployment on Kalayaan Island in early 2024.

Converge parent company partners with Data Lake for Starlink satellite deal

Meanwhile, Tech leader Dennis Anthony Uy expanded his connectivity business by signing a deal with Data Lake Inc., the Philippine distributor of Starlink kits.

Uy, as CEO of ComClark Network and Technology Corp., the parent company of Converge ICT Solutions Inc., partnered to bring satellite-based internet connectivity to every island in the Philippines.

The agreement involved Data Lake selling Starlink kits and subscriptions to ComClark, aiming to connect as many islands as possible. This marked Uy’s second transaction with Starlink, after Converge leased fiber lines and ground equipment to SpaceX in 2022.

Uy has supported using low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to deliver internet services to remote areas. Starlink, operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, manages a constellation of LEO satellites that provide internet coverage from the skies.

Launched in the Philippines in 2023, Starlink’s broadband service is marketed by Data Lake. Recently, Data Lake partnered with Philippine companies, including DFNN Inc., to promote Starlink and help narrow the digital gap in rural areas, as President Marcos advocated.

[We will update this article as soon as we get further updates from Starlink…]

Starlink internet and the need for healthy market competition

As with other businesses, competition breeds innovation.

The advent of Starlink Philippines will be sure to ruffle the feathers of market competition.

The possibility of having their patrons swayed by a new provider can serve as an incentive for local providers to improve their services.

Even now, Pangilinan-led telco provider Smart Communications Inc. has turned to Omnispace, a Washington-based internet service provider. It aims to explore the feasibility of space-based 5G internet connectivity for Smart network subscribers.