MANILA, Philippines — In full anticipation of the launch of its satellite-to-mobile service in partnership with Starlink, Globe said that the quality of customer experience will depend heavily on the scale, density and maturity of the satellite constellation supporting the service.
“We are focused on what satellite technology can deliver today and how it can benefit Filipinos who are currently unserved and underserved,” said Globe president and CEO Carl Cruz. “This is precisely why we chose to partner with Starlink, a globally proven platform with over 10,000 low Earth orbit satellites in space being used by major operators around the world to expand connectivity beyond traditional network coverage.”
Reacting to reports that satellite service is very slow compared to terrestrial networks, the company said its full test results prove otherwise.
“Using Starlink mobile in remote areas demonstrated SMS messages were sent and received almost instantaneously, while users were also able to access app-based calls, messaging platforms such as Viber and WhatsApp, navigation apps, eGov PH, GlobeOne, and GCash even in areas beyond traditional mobile coverage,“ Cruz said.
Similar to terrestrial networks, Globe pointed to scale as a key differentiator of the Starlink network. More satellites in orbit spells the difference in providing stronger service continuity, better network responsiveness and faster user experience in remote and underserved areas.
Industry studies also point to the growing importance of large-scale satellite infrastructure in the future of mobile connectivity. GSMA Intelligence noted that satellite constellation deployments have accelerated significantly ahead of commercial satellite-to-mobile rollouts, underscoring how scale and orbital capacity are becoming critical differentiators in delivering reliable satellite-to-mobile experiences.
The company added that momentum behind satellite-to-mobile technology continues to accelerate globally, with several major telecommunications operators already partnering with Starlink to expand connectivity beyond traditional network coverage. These include operators in the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Latin America, reflecting growing industry confidence in large-scale low Earth orbit satellite infrastructure as a viable complement to terrestrial mobile networks.
The telco underscored the value of large-scale low Earth orbit satellite infrastructure in helping extend essential connectivity services to geographically isolated and underserved communities. While satellite-to-mobile technology is not intended to replace terrestrial mobile networks, the company said it can provide a meaningful and dependable connectivity experience in areas where traditional coverage remains unavailable or economically difficult to deploy.
Designed to complement existing networks, the technology can help bridge critical coverage gaps, strengthen network resilience, and expand access to communication, digital services, education, financial tools, and economic opportunities for communities that have long remained beyond the reach of conventional infrastructure.
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