SpaceX, Converge ICT in talks for PH broadband satellite service

Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) is in talks with Dennis Uy’s Converge ICT for a potential venture to bring the Starlink satellite service to the Philippines, says a report.

According to Inquirer.net, representatives from SpaceX and Converge ICT met on multiple occasions to discuss the potential venture.

Starlink uses a constellation of satellites to bring internet connection to its subscribers. It requires a kit consisting of a dish, router, power supply, cables, and mounting pod. Users can expect speeds of 50 Mbps to 150 Mbps with latency from 20ms to 40ms.

Converge, on the other hand, sees satellite internet as a complementary business. Uy previously told Inquirer that the company operates an earth station that is used to communicate with satellites to bring internet connection to business clients in remote locations that cannot be reached by fiber.

Early this month, Senator Poe considered Starlink as the next ISP in the Philippines and virtually met with the SpaceX Starlink Team to discuss the possibilities of entry.

“The cost at this point is quite prohibitive for the regular subscriber. It’s about USD 500PHP 29,343INR 42,375EUR 476CNY 3,639 just to set this up, or about PHP 25,000USD 426INR 36,115EUR 406CNY 3,103. Having said that, that’s not necessarily a bad thing because there’s probably a niche market that will be able to afford this technology. And we are also looking forward that, in the future, with more subscribers, the cost will go down. Bababa rin kapag marami nang subscribers,” Poe said.