Globe Telecom’s partnership with popular technology entrepreneur Elon Musk’s Starlink brings the Philippines one step closer to becoming an fully interconnected country.
“This partnership with Starlink marks a historic step in our mission to build a digitally inclusive nation,” said Carl Cruz, President and CEO of Globe Telecom. “Today, connectivity is a lifeline, a modern‑day utility that fuels opportunity and economic progress. By extending mobile reach through satellite technology, we are ensuring that every Filipino, whether in bustling cities or remote barangays, has access to essential communication.”
Digital inclusion in remote areas
According to Ookla.com, an ongoing problem for the Philippines’ internet connectivity is its geographical layout–allowing for limited fiber deployment throughout the islands.
This causes reluctance in ISPs to invest in fiber deployment–as building fibers in remote areas can be challenging. It’s either the areas are “cost-effective nor logistically viable”
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and Satellite Communication (SatCom) are increasingly the cream of the crop among options for internet connection in isolated areas.
Globe is now taking action to one of the world’s most challenging problems — providing internet access to areas that are geographically isolated and disadvantaged. How? By removing the need for “specialized devices” for internet connectivity.
Starlink does this through satellite technology called Direct to Cell (DTC) satellite service which allows users to access internet and mobile services even in isolated areas as long as there is a clear sight of the sky.
This breakthrough makes the partnership the first in Southeast Asia, the 8th in the world, and the 2nd in Asia. The technology will cover over 7,600 islands in the Philippines by leveraging starlink’s constellation of over 650 low-Earth satellites. The partnership will significantly improve disaster response, extend internet access to remote areas (GIDA), and enhance digital inclusion for rural communities.
From isolated to interconnected creatives
Economies around the world have taken initiatives to up their digital infrastructure. Investing heavily in technology has been a must in their economies. The Philippines is on the same track.
In 2019, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Philippines ICT arm, launched Digital Transformation Centers (DCT) to support the digital capacities of its citizens. This initiative helps creatives from far-flung areas to learn the digital trends that are vital to becoming a tech literate citizen.
As society shifts to digital, technology is also taking the creative industry by storm. With the Globe X Starlink partnership, isolated areas are given broader access to digital resources. This breakthrough in connectivity from Starlink will allow creatives to improve their processes with what the internet has to offer.
For one, creatives from far-flung areas with little to no internet will be able to showcase their work to a much wider audience — not just in the Philippines, but on a global scale. With native influences from their communities, the shift towards digital creativity can now pave a path for more original Filipino works to be recognized globally. This can open new markets and community growth through ecommerce and virtual events.
Moreover, creatives who have trouble connecting to the internet can now easily research what works and what doesn’t. Easier access to the internet means more exposure to their intended audience — hence, providing opportunity for them to do more extensive research. Easy access to digital production tools could boost their productivity and creativity.
Although it will take time, digital startups will be able to better sustain their digital ecosystems in areas that used to be isolated. Reliable internet goes a long way.
This partnership with Starlink is just one of Globe’s many initiatives for the creative and digital industry. Globe already partners with cultural and creative institutions (e.g., Cultural Center of the Philippines) to promote arts education, mentorship, and ecosystem development. The connectivity partnership reinforces these efforts by ensuring digital inclusion and access to resources across regions.
