Astranis, a San Francisco-based company, recently inked a deal to bring satellite internet to the Philippines. The satellite is set to launch in 2024 and will target underserved communities in the archipelago. The introduction of satellite internet has the potential to bridge the “digital divide” and contribute $100 billion to the country’s economic value by the end of the decade. Despite spending the most time online in the Asia Pacific region, Filipinos do not fully utilize the internet for educational and employment purposes. To encourage more productive internet usage, there is a need to expand connectivity, and Astranis aims to be the solution by enabling millions of Filipinos to utilize the power of the internet. This article will delve into Astranis’ plans to enhance online access in the Philippines, along with other projects that can further improve connectivity.
Astranis has partnered with satellite services provider Orbits Corp and its sister company HTechCorp, a Philippine internet service provider, to purchase capacity for the satellite. Although financial details of the contract were not disclosed, Atty. Augusto Baculio, former Congressman of the Philippines legislature, supports the project. The objective is to connect unconnected regions and empower them in the digital age. Astranis’ dedicated satellite internet will provide reliable connectivity to disaster-prone areas like Barangay Caagutayan.
Currently, Filipinos spend approximately 10 hours online, predominantly relying on fiber internet. However, this method is susceptible to natural disasters due to the dependency on microwave towers and cables, resulting in only 11,000 out of 42,000 barangays (local communities) having coverage. These areas, classified as Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA), often lack access to healthcare and have low annual incomes. Astranis aims to connect 5,000 sites and provide internet access to two million people with its first satellite. Additionally, the company plans to collaborate with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Information and Communications Technology to align with the nation’s objectives.
What sets Astranis’ services apart from other satellite internet programs is its fusion of small-sized Starlink satellites with geosynchronous orbital ones like Viasat. Placed in a geosynchronous orbit approximately 22,000 miles from Earth’s surface, the satellite can match the planet’s rotation, allowing it to cover the entire Philippines.
Aside from Astranis, there are other satellite internet providers serving the Philippines. Starlink, a well-known company, already offers high-speed and low-latency internet throughout the country, even in rural and remote areas. Another major player, Google’s Project Taara, employs innovative laser technology to provide internet access to rural locations. With small, camera-like devices, it transmits data via lasers to receivers, decoding and converting the information into bytes. Project Taara operates effectively in various challenging environments and offers internet speeds of up to 20 Gbps within a 20 km radius. The project can be deployed for crossing difficult terrains, establishing high-capacity backbones, improving network resilience, and more.
In conclusion, the partnership between Astranis and the Philippines will bring satellite internet to the country, addressing the digital divide and benefiting approximately two million people. With enhanced online connectivity, education, employment, and businesses can thrive, significantly boosting the national economy. For more information, refer to the Medium blog of Astranis’ CEO, John Gedmark, and stay updated on the latest tips and trends in online technology at Inquirer Tech.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
