Starlink now in PH

Technology mogul Elon Musk’s SpaceX announced on Wednesday that Starlink, a satellite-based internet connectivity service, was already available in the Philippines.

SpaceX made the announcement via its Twitter account, attaching a website link showing that the Starlink map now included the Philippines.

Starlink integrator Data Lake Inc. previously announced that the satellite connectivity service would be rolled out this quarter after dealing with some delays related to infrastructure deployment.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology declined to issue a statement on the matter pending the official inauguration of Starlink’s earth station. No further details were provided as of press time.

Jana Ang, head of sales and marketing of Data Lake, recently told reporters in Boracay the scheduled launch would mainly cater to the enterprise segment.

An enterprise kit costs about P201,600 with monthly subscription starting at P28,000 at the lowest, depending on the service package availed by the customer. Ang said the subscription would have no lock-in period, which means users can cancel anytime.

The residential segment will be served only by late 2024 or early 2025 as the company faces a supply chain crunch due to global chip shortage.

These chips are a primary input for the production of Starlink’s satellite dishes. Several industries, including automotive and consumer electronics, have been reeling from the adverse impact of the chip shortage following the slowdown in manufacturing during the pandemic.