Elon Musk's SpaceX to partner with Converge ICT?

The Philippines may experience broadband satellite services of Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) through local internet provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc.

Photo from: Seeking Alpha

SpaceX in talks with Converge ICT

An exclusive report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer revealed that Converge ICT has been in discussion with SpaceX for a potential partnership.

This comes amid SpaceX's deployment of Starlink, which targets to put 12,000 satellites into low Earth orbit, promising to deliver high-speed, low-latency, cheap internet access to anyone who has the proprietary Starlink receiver.

Currently, Starlink provides bet services to domestic and international clients, flaunting speeds of 50 megabits per second (Mbps) to 150 Mbps.

Earlier this month, Senator Mary Grace Poe expressed bullishness Starlink could be one of the telco players in the Philippine market.

Starlink, she said, could be a "game-changer" in the telco space as this could provide enhanced internet access to unserved and underserved areas.

In January, Senator Aquinlino "Koko" Pimentel 3rd also said Starlink satellite broadband's potential system coverage of the country may begin by the third quarter of this year. 

Pimentel reiterated the need to have reliable internet connectivity, especially now that the Philippines shifts to the new normal forced by the coronavirus pandemic.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer