After giving the green light to tech visionary Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider Starlink, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced it is opening the gates for more satellite system players in the country.
DICT Acting Secretary Emmanuel Rey R. Caintic last week officiated a public consultation with Satellite Systems Providers or Operators (SSPOs) in Makati, urging them to "intensify their corporate presence in the country and be part of the digital transformation".
Satellite connectivity is vital for the Philippines because "Even if we have good ICT infrastructure, they are vulnerable to natural disasters," DICT Undersecretary Alan A. Silor stressed.
"Getting bandwidth from satellite providers is also the way to go for Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged areas or GIDA sites where laying fiber cables is difficult,” he pointed out.
Thus, “We will foster an enabling environment for our SSPOs and support them with policies that will help accelerate our digital transformation initiatives,” Secretary Caintic pledged.
DICT Department Circular No. 001, s. 2022 rationalizes, streamlines and liberalizes the registration, regulation, and monitoring of qualified SSPOs to quicken their participation.
Applicants can submit their requirements online, DICT Director Elias Omar A. Sana added.
“The DICT will continue to find ways to make the accreditation process faster, more convenient, and will provide policy support to companies like Starlink," according to Secretary Caintic.
The Philippines is scheduled to be the first country in Southeast Asia to enjoy the services of Starlink broadband service.
Starlink provides a low-Earth orbit satellite system designed to deliver broadband internet connectivity with speeds between 100 to 200 Megabits per second (Mbps) especially in GIDA sites.