THE Philippine Senate has taken a very important step toward improving the country’s internet connectivity by pushing for the provisional approval of Starlink’s satellite internet service. With internet access increasingly seen as a basic human right, the Philippines has struggled to keep up with its neighbors in terms of speed and coverage, particularly in remote areas where access remains limited.
Starlink, the satellite-based internet service operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has the potential to change this. Following amendments to the Public Service Act in 2022, which allowed foreign companies like SpaceX to operate locally, Starlink has begun expanding its services to hard-to-reach areas of the country. This includes providing satellite internet to schools, government offices, and military installations in places such as Palawan and Tawi-Tawi.
However, the country’s legal framework has not kept pace with technological advancements. The Radio Control Law of 1931, designed to regulate traditional radio systems, poses a barrier to the deployment of modern satellite internet technologies.
To support this progress, the Senate has recently introduced and adopted Senate Joint Resolution No. 3, sponsored by Senator Grace Poe, urging the National Telecommunications Commission to grant Starlink Internet Services Philippines, Inc. provisional authority to set up satellite ground stations while it awaits a congressional franchise. These ground stations are vital for improving the quality of satellite internet by connecting satellites with local infrastructure.
The Senate’s backing of Starlink is seen as a crucial move in extending internet access across the 7,641 islands of the Philippines, particularly in its more remote regions. Unlike traditional internet services that rely on fiber-optic cables, Starlink’s satellite technology is better suited to the country’s unique geography. The service has already been used to restore communications in disaster-hit areas and is being implemented in schools and government offices in underserved communities, including areas like Jomalig in Quezon and Barangay Dikapanikian in Aurora, as well as providing services to government agencies like COMELEC and DepEd, who need internet in remote locations.
Starlink’s satellite technology could provide reliable, high-speed internet, which will improve education, healthcare, and communication. This progress will help Filipinos fully participate in today’s digital world.
