Despite the expanded availability of fiber-based broadband and rollout of technologies like 5G in key locations across the Philippines, there are still many unserved and underserved communities in the country. Starting today, February 22, the latter has finally one more service to choose from.
Elon Musk’s space-exploration company SpaceX has announced that its low-earth-orbit satellite internet service Starlink is now available in the Philippines. It was originally scheduled to go live locally in 2022.
How much do you need to shell out to get started on the service? The Starlink kit, which includes the antenna and router, costs P29,320 (roughly $532). The internet-subscription fee, on the other hand, is P2,700 ($49) per month — lower than we expected. You’ll set up the hardware, and there’s an app for Android and iOS that uses augmented reality to help you pick the best location for its receiver.
To order, go to the official Starlink website’s Map tab, type in your area in the Service Address search box, and click on Search. Choose your location, then click on Order Now. On the Order page, you’ll need to provide your contact information and shipping address before you can place an order.
SpaceX claims that subscribers in the Philippines can expect speeds somewhere between 50Mbps and 200 Mbps.
For the unfamiliar, Starlink uses a universal network of satellites floating in Earth’s low orbit to beam down high-speed internet signals to small, consumer-grade satellite dishes owned by its subscribers. Unlike traditional broadband, it doesn’t need international submarine cables, fiber-optic and copper cables, transmitter towers, roadside cabinets, and other traditional infrastructure associated with terrestrial internet to work, making it a great solution in remote areas where broadband access is limited — or not available at all — due to geographical constraints.
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