Starlink, Data Lake to offer internet services in PH by March

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Elon Musk’s SpaceX entered a partnership deal with business tycoon Henry Sy Jr.’s data firm Data Lake to enter the Philippine market. 

SpaceX operates Starlink, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite-powered internet provider, which is looking to establish operations in the country. 

In a statement, Data Lake said that this partnership would help expedite Starlink’s entry to the Philippines after facing delays in the production and deployment of its LEO satellites. 

The firm added that this would also open exploration opportunities for other foreign telco platers — particularly those based in the United States (U.S.) — to compete with local internet providers. 

“We are excited to finally introduce Starlink to the Philippine market by the first quarter of 2023,” said Data Lake Vice Chairman and CEO Anthony Almeda. 

Almeda also stated that Starlink’s “high-speed, low latency broadband internet service” will be “a game-changer” in the country that is still struggling with intermittent and patchy broadband coverage. 

SpaceX will enter the country in the first quarter of the year. Customers who would like to avail of their services would have to pay an initial $599 per unit and a $99 monthly connectivity service for a download speed of 200 Mbps.

The Philippines is set to be the first country in Southeast Asia where the SpaceX division will offer satellite-based internet services.