Globe Telecom to Introduce Satellite-to-Phone Services in the Philippines
Globe Telecom Inc. has announced its plans to introduce satellite-to-phone services in the Philippines, aiming to test the system in provinces to assess its reliability in connecting far-flung areas.
The telecommunications company has expanded its partnership with satellite operator Lynk Global Inc. to pilot a program that seeks to provide connectivity to mobile users in remote places. The collaboration is set to run until June 2025, with Globe testing Lynk’s satellite services in Zambales, Pangasinan, Siargao, and Leyte this year.
The pilot test will utilize Lynk’s low earth orbit (LEO) satellites to deliver emergency alerts and text messages to Globe subscribers in the four provinces, particularly targeting towns struggling with network signals due to the lack of land-based infrastructure.
Globe sees satellite services as a way to address the connectivity needs of enterprise clients and state agencies in hard-to-reach areas. The company also envisions utilizing internet from space to promote tourist destinations with limited or no cellular coverage and potentially bring satellite capabilities to disaster zones, fishing grounds, maritime routes, and other areas requiring reliable connectivity.
Meanwhile, Lynk hopes that the pilot test of its satellite-to-phone services in the Philippines will provide valuable insights to enhance its commercial products.
Gerhard Tan, Globe’s senior director and head of network strategy and innovations, expressed the company’s commitment to bridging the digital divide in underserved areas by exploring innovative solutions to provide connectivity to more Filipinos. He highlighted the goal of connecting the unconnected through disruptive technology like the satellite direct-to-phone service.
Globe and Lynk initiated their collaboration in 2022, signing a memorandum of understanding to deliver a proof of concept for satellite-to-phone services in the Philippines. The proof of concept was conducted in signal-deprived areas in Bataan, with tests completed in February 2023.
Satellites are increasingly seen as the future of connectivity, with their ability to beam internet from space to even the most remote locations. Unlike traditional assets like fiber cables that face terrestrial challenges and weather disruptions, satellites are not affected by such obstacles as they orbit in space.
