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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider BOI pursues SpaceX planned expansion in PH

BOI pursues SpaceX planned expansion in PH

Published Feb 28, 2022 03:17 pm

The Board of Investments (BOI) is pursuing the planned investments of SpaceEx for a satellite-based internet services in the country.

Trade and Industry Undersecretary and Board of Investment (BOI) Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo (second from left), Commercial Counselor Kenneth Yap (first from left), and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC WDC) Team at the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. met with SpaceX, Ms. Rebecca Hunter, Sr. Manager, Gov’t. affairs and Mr. Brian Schepis, Sr. (seated) Manager for market access on Nov. 16, 2021, to discuss Starlink’s plan to put up a Philippine-registered company that will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of SpaceX Exploration Technologies Corp, a US corporation. 

In a statement, Trade and Industry Undersecretary and Board of Investment (BOI) Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo they have been doing a series of follow-up meeting with SpaceEx immediately following Senate’s ratification of the Public Service Act in December last year. The latest meeting was held on Feb. 2 2022.

The amended PSA allows full foreign ownership for satellite internet services in the country and not requiring legislative franchise for public services.

According to Rodolfo, the Elon Musk company was keen to offer satellite internet services in the country, particularly on providing broadband connectivity to remote areas where traditional internet (based on land cables) is limited or virtually absent.

The planned investment is expected to be undertaken by StarLink, which is wholly-owned firm of Elon Musk’s SpaceEx. Starlink plans to provide high-speed satellite broadband connectivity to be delivered to customers nationwide, specifically in areas where connectivity has been a challenge.

SpaceX is a global space launch provider with internal design and manufacturing capabilities. It is leveraging this experience to deploy the world's most advanced satellite broadband internet system, called Starlink, which provides satellite internet access to most of the earth.

Its constellation consists of over 1600 satellites in mid-2021, and will eventually consist of thousands of mass-produced small satellites in low earth orbit (LEO), which communicates with designated ground transceivers.

Although the technical possibility of satellite internet service covers most of the global population, actual service can be delivered only in countries that have licensed SpaceX to provide service within any specific national jurisdiction. As of September last year, the beta service offering is already available in 17 countries.

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