Globe Telecom is set to launch a new satellite-to-mobile service with Starlink as early as June, pending government approval. The service will first be available to Android users and will allow mobile phones to connect directly to satellites in areas with no regular cell signal.
Globe said the new direct-to-cell (DTC) service will offer affordable prepaid packages starting at P99 for 30 days and P299 for 90 days. The technology works with standard LTE smartphones and does not require special equipment.
The rollout is significant because it aims to improve mobile coverage in remote and underserved parts of the Philippines, including rural and maritime communities where traditional telecom infrastructure is limited or unavailable. Globe said the service could help connect the remaining 4 percent of Filipinos who still lack terrestrial mobile coverage.
Using Starlink’s network of more than 650 low-Earth orbit satellites, the service is also expected to support emergency communications during disasters and extreme weather, when regular networks may fail. Globe said it will also help people in isolated areas access digital government services through the eGov App.
Starlink’s direct-to-cell technology, developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has already been used in several countries to send emergency alerts and maintain connectivity during outages.
