American tech tycoon Elon Musk is in talks with Filipino companies in hopes of launching satellite internet services in the country—bringing faster internet connection to Filipinos.
Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp.’s (SpaceX) is said to be firming up deals with Transpacific Broadband Group International as well as Converge ICT Solutions for its Starlink project which is eyed to be launched in the country by 2022, reported the Inquirer.
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The report said that under the project, SpaceX will “launch thousands of satellites into low earth orbit to form a constellation of spacecraft capable of beaming high-speed internet to difficult-to-reach areas around the globe.”
So far, over 1,700 satellites have been deployed In low-earth orbit under the Starlink project. This is expected to go up to 30,000 if market demands as well as once it secures other regulatory requirements.
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SpaceX said that low-earth orbit satellite technology not only offers speed but also affordability to its users. Here in the Philippines, preorders for the services are slated at P5,000. (NM)
