Bill granting legislative franchise to Elon Musk's Starlink PH pushed

MANILA – KABAYAN Party-list Rep. Ron Salo on Tuesday pushed anew for the approval of his proposed bill seeking to grant a legislative franchise to Starlink Philippines, Inc., a subsidiary of SpaceX owned by Elon Musk.

Salo said House of Representatives Bill (HB) 10954, which he filed on Sept. 23, would enable Starlink to construct ground stations to enhance Internet connectivity in the country, particularly in remote and underserved areas.

"Filipinos are among the world's most avid Internet users, yet ironically, the Philippines has one of the slowest and least reliable Internet infrastructures in Southeast Asia," he said.

"This bill aims to change that by leveraging Starlink's technology to provide affordable and fast Internet services, particularly to rural and isolated areas where connectivity is most needed."

If enacted into law, the bill would authorize Starlink to establish and operate telecommunications systems, including the construction and maintenance of ground stations and infrastructure that would support its satellite Internet services, he said.

He said it would also mandate affordable pricing for underserved areas and set guidelines to ensure that Starlink adheres to standards of data privacy protection, aligning with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.

According to the Worldwide Broadband Speed League, the Philippines ranked 86th out of 220 countries, with an average download speed of 43.36 Mbps, far behind its Asian neighbors.

Only 56 percent of Filipino households are connected to the Internet, with even lower figures in regions like Zamboanga Peninsula (28.5 percent) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) at 30.1 percent.

"Poor internet access limits opportunities for Filipinos, particularly those from low-income households, and hampers our micro, small, and medium enterprises. By bridging this digital divide, we can better prepare our citizens for future jobs and improve the productivity of homegrown businesses," Salo said.

Starlink's technology, which operates through a network of low-Earth orbit satellites, is designed to deliver broadband Internet capable of supporting streaming, gaming, video calls, and more. Its satellite-based system is particularly suited to the archipelagic geography of the Philippines, providing access to areas that conventional infrastructure has difficulty reaching.

The bill also underscored Starlink's commitment to invest in local communities by creating job opportunities through the construction of ground stations and on-the-job training for Filipino workers, aligning with the government's efforts to foster local employment and technological advancement.

Salo said the legislative franchise would not only improve Internet access but also boost the country's digital transformation.

Starlink Philippines is already accredited as a Satellite Systems Provider and registered as a Value-Added Service Provider in the country.

"We hope for a swift passage of this bill as it holds great potential in providing equal opportunities to all Filipinos, regardless of where they are located," he said. (PNA)