Globe Telecom, Inc. has officially sealed its partnership with Starlink, a firm owned by American tech billionaire Elon Musk Elon Musk, for the roll out of direct-to-cell (DTC) satellite service in the Philippines.
The Ayala-led Telco telecommunications company will be the first to market Starlink’s DTC satellite service in the country and Southeast Asia, and the second in Asia.
Globe president and CEO Carl Cruz and Starlink senior partnerships manager Damien Innes signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) at the Globe Tower in Taguig City on Friday, Jan. 16.
The ceremonial signing was witnessed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda, Globe Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, and Taguig City Representative Jorge Daniel Bocobo.
The historic breakthrough service will allow Filipinos with standard LTE (long-term evolution) mobile phones to access mobile services such as essential data that offers video, voice and messaging through apps, and text messaging, wherever there is a view of the sky.
The satellite-to-mobile service works with standard LTE phones, thus serving the underserved communities and the remaining 4% of the Filipino population who live in areas without any terrestrial coverage.
“This partnership with Starlink marks a historic step in our mission to build a digital inclusive nation,” said Cruz.
“Connectivity is no longer a privilege—it is a lifeline and a modern‑day utility that fuels individual opportunity and national economic progress. By extending mobile reach through satellite technology, we are ensuring that every Filipino, whether in bustling cities or in the most remote barangays, has access to essential communication,” he further said.
Starlink is the world’s largest 4G/LTE coverage provider and partners with Mobile Network Operators all over the world.IMT
