Starlink Is in the Philippines; Here's What We Know So Far About Elon Musk's Internet Service

(SPOT.ph) American tech billionaire Elon Musk is making local headlines once more—and it’s not about his takeover of Twitter this time.

Starlink, an Internet service linked to Musk's SpaceX company, went live in the Philippines on Wednesday, February 22. Starlink's reach in the Philippines is only within Metro Manila for now, but it is set to expand further across the country within the first quarter of 2023.

With the National Telecommunications Commission’s and business tycoon Henry Sy’s help, Starlink was able to get a swift nod to roll out its commercial services earlier than its expected mid-2023 launch.

This makes the Philippines the first country in Southeast Asia to welcome Starlink’s technology.

It's no secret that the Philippines has been tolerating slow and expensive Internet for far too long, always at the lower rungs when it comes to the world’s average broadband speed. Will Starlink finally be the answer to many Filipinos’ prayers for faster connection?

Also read: Why Exactly Is the Internet So Slow in the Philippines?

Here's everything you need to know about Starlink Internet in the Philippines:

What is Starlink?

Developed in 2015, Starlink uses the power of Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) low-earth orbit satellites. The end result is high-speed, low-latency broadband Internet meant to reach even the most remote locations. By the end of 2022, Starlink had reportedly reached more than a million subscribers.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan Uy called Starlink satellites “game-changing technologies…perfect for our archipelago.” Its entry to the Philippines is meant to primarily service regions with lower Internet connectivity.

“It will definitely significantly bridge the digital divide that has been plaguing many countries, especially countries like ours that are divided by large swaths of water," Uy was quoted as saying in The Philippine Star.

What sets Starlink apart from other Internet service providers is that its satellites are positioned in low-earth orbit (LEO) rather than the conventional underground fiber optic cables currently typically in use. For example, PLDT only started testing out LEO satellites in the country in 2022. Instead of thousands of small satellites, Starlink will also only utilize several large ones.

In terms of service, Starlink promises no long-term contracts so both parties are able to make sudden changes when necessary. The Internet service provider is also aiming to offer a global mobile phone service by 2024.

Also read: How Many Satellites are Orbiting the Earth?

What is the Internet speed of Starlink?

According to SpaceX Government Affairs senior manager Rebecca Hunter, Starlink has a download speed of between 100 to 200 Megabits per second with latency as low as 20, which means little to no lags for video call and streams.  

According to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Starlink has a download speed of between 100 to 200 Megabits per second with latency as low as 20—a major upgrade from the current fastest fixed network, PLDT Home. This means little to no lags for video call and streams.

To compare, the Speedtest Awards for Q3-Q4 2021 revealed that PLDT Home has a download speed of 58.57 Mbps in Manila, 74.22 Mbps in Cebu, and 71.50 Mbps in Davao.

How much does Starlink cost in the Philippines?

Metro Manila residents will have to pay a one-time hardware fee of P29,320 for a user terminal, while subscription is priced at P2,700 a month. It’s a hefty sum for better Internet, which is why Starlink is also offering a one-month trial for interested customers. If left unsatisfied, they will only need to return the hardware to receive a full refund.

Shipping the hardware will take an estimated two to three weeks from order, which is fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis.

DataReportal claimed there are still 35.77 million Filipinos who remained offline at the beginning of 2022. Uy acknowledged that those who still don’t have Internet access are likely the ones who can’t afford it in the first place, which is why the government is currently looking to set up Starlink as part of its Free WiFi Program.

Also read: Everyone Agrees That We Need Faster Internet in the Philippines