The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) installed Starlink kits in two geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas to provide free internet access to its students, teachers, and local government office personnel.

In a statement on Monday, March 27, PhilSA said that the initiative is part of its Introducing Non-Geostationary Satellite Constellations Test Deployment to Improve Internet Services (INCENTIVISE) project and is implemented with the Department of Science and Technology-Advanced Science and Technology Institute in collaboration with USAID-Better Access and Connectivity.

"A Starlink kit was installed at the Barangay Hall of Barangay Dikapanikian in Dingalan, Aurora." (Photo: PhilSA)

"Starlink kits have been installed by PhilSA in Barangay Apad, Jomalig, Quezon Province, and in Barangay Dikapanikian, Dingalan, Aurora – two geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) in the Philippines. The deployment in these areas uses Starlink LEO satellites for Internet connectivity with a focus on public education and local governance, where students, teachers and the local government office will have free Internet connectivity for six (6) months," PhilSA said.

Department of Education-Jomalig Public Schools District Supervisor Sharon Villaverde said that high-speed internet access in these areas will greatly help, especially in creating lesson plans and attending online training, meetings, and events.

It will also be beneficial in times of disaster, particularly in Barangay Apad, which frequently experiences typhoons.

"PhilSA personnel teach the barangay officials and teachers how to use the app to stow the Starlink kit whenever there is a need to put it down before a typhoon occurs." (Photo: PhilSA)

"This initiative is meant to demonstrate the capabilities of new and emerging space technologies, such as Low Earth Orbit Internet satellite constellations, in bridging the connectivity gap especially in remote and rural areas. For our archipelagic and maritime nation, satellites can effectively and quickly provide a canopy of high-speed Internet coverage to communities and nautical highways that open the door to economic opportunities. Satellite overlays complement and coexist with the continuing rollout of terrestrial infrastructure and undersea cables for connecting our many islands," said PhilSA Director General Joel Joseph S. Marciano, Jr.

PhilSA noted that the project is SpaceX's response to the INCENTIVISE open call in October 2021 which aimed to bring the spotlight on emerging space technologies that address the digital divide.

"According to the US-based company's website, Starlink offers high-speed connectivity using an advanced satellite constellation that enables lag-free video calls, online gaming, streaming, and other high-data-rate activities.

"Starlink also features an easy-to-setup system that makes it ideal for bringing the Internet to remote locations where connectivity may have been unreliable or completely unavailable," PhilSA said.