GLOBE Telecom Inc. on Monday said that it had secured regulatory approval to begin commercial operations of satellite-to-mobile Starlink services in the Philippines.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) was said to have granted the permit in line with the government’s agenda to advance inclusive digital transformation and support the agency’s mandate to bridge the digital divide for communities.
Starlink, which is owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, operates a “constellation” of low-Earth orbit satellites that deliver high-speed internet services to remote areas worldwide.
The Globe-Starlink partnership for direct-to-cell services was launched in January, and at that time, the telco said it would help address mobile coverage gaps across geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
On Monday, Globe said connectivity would now be possible anywhere in the country, particularly in remote communities or places where traditional cell towers cannot reach.
“This new satellite-to-mobile technology enhances digital inclusion and accessibility,” Globe President and CEO Carl Cruz said in a statement.
“Given the NTC’s approval for commercial launch, we can now extend our reach beyond traditional towers, ensuring that even in the most remote or disaster‑stricken areas, Filipinos remain connected,” he added.
“This milestone reinforces our commitment to uplift lives, support businesses, and keep the nation connected.”
The Starlink service was recently deployed in South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani following a magnitude 7.8 earthquake. Globe said it was used to support emergency communications and disaster response upon approval of a demo permit from the NTC.
The service requires a compatible LTE smartphone and an active Globe SIM enrolled in a Globe Starlink plan. Globe has said that prepaid and TM subscribers can access the service starting at P99 and that it is included for Globe Platinum and postpaid subscribers on Plan 1499 and higher.
Globe shares surged by 6.94 percent, or P125, to P1,925 apiece on Monday, driven primarily by news about the looming public debut of joint venture Mynt, the operator of GCash.
