Globe to roll out Starlink satellite service
Globe Telecom Inc. has secured regulatory approval to roll out its direct-to-mobile satellite service with Elon Musk’s Starlink, becoming the first telecommunications company to commercially launch the technology in the Philippines.
The Ayala-led telco said on Monday that the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) had approved the commercial deployment of its satellite-to-mobile service, which aims to reach the remaining 4 percent of Filipinos still outside the coverage of terrestrial mobile networks.
“Given the NTC’s approval for commercial launch, Globe can now extend its reach beyond traditional towers, ensuring that even in the most remote or disaster‑stricken areas, Filipinos remain connected,” Globe president and CEO Carl Cruz said.
The service will initially be available on supported Android LTE smartphones using an active Globe SIM.
It will be offered starting at P99 for Globe Prepaid and TM subscribers, while there will be no additional charge for Globe Platinum and Globe Postpaid customers with Plan 1,499 and above.
The service works through satellite roaming, allowing subscribers to connect to Starlink’s satellite network within the Philippines without incurring roaming charges.
Beyond text messaging and voice calls, the service will also support mobile data, thus allowing users to access messaging platforms, voice and video calling applications, as well as navigation services.
Unlike conventional cellular networks, however, users must have a clear line of sight to the sky to establish a connection, as the system links directly to Starlink’s network of more than 650 low-Earth orbit satellites, which function as “cell towers in space.”
According to Globe, NTC recognized the service as supporting the government’s push to “advance inclusive digital transformation and support the NTC’s mandate to bridge the digital divide for communities across the country.”
“This new satellite-to-mobile technology enhances digital inclusion and accessibility,” Cruz said. “This milestone reinforces our commitment to uplift lives, support businesses and keep the nation connected.”
Apart from serving remote areas, Globe said the technology is also intended to provide backup communications during natural disasters and prolonged power outages, when terrestrial cell sites may become unavailable. It was tested by more than 150,000 subscribers across South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in June.
