Globe eyes to reach 4% underserved population with Starlink partnership

Telecommunications company Globe is eyeing to reach the remaining 4% underserved population in mountainous and remote areas with their partnership with Starlink.

"By complementing mobile and fiber with satellite, we can now reach the remaining 4% of the population living in mountainous and remote areas, bringing our coverage closer to 100%," Globe president and CEO Carl Cruz said during the Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Spain

"This breakthrough ensures that even the most underserved communities can finally participate in the digital world, access government services online, and be fully connected,” he added. 

Globe recently completed its first live trial of the Starlink Mobile, a satellite-to-mobile service in partnership with Starlink, marking a significant step in expanding mobile connectivity beyond the limits of traditional cell towers. 

In January 2026, the telecom firm announced a partnership deal with Starlink. Cruz and Starlink senior partnerships manager Damien Innes signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA), making the Ayala-led telco to be the first to market Starlink’s DTC service in the Philippines and Southeast Asia and second in Asia.

During the Mobile World Congress 2026, Cruz also discussed how AI serves as a strong catalyst for transformation within Globe at The Great Indoors Podcast, hosted by Matthew Roberts, Customer Marketing Head of Amdocs.

Cruz shared insights on Globe’s digital inclusion journey and its mission to make connectivity an enabler for progress in the Philippines.

Now in its 12th season, The Great Indoors explores how storytelling drives technological innovation and bridges the gap between complex advancements like AI and the human experience.

Cruz’s participation highlighted Globe’s evolving role from a telco to a trusted lifestyle partner, enabling education, livelihood, healthcare, and digital inclusion across the country.

“With the Philippines being an archipelagic nation of over 7,600 islands, serving 65 million customers has both challenges and opportunities. This is where our recent Starlink partnership announcement on direct-to-device satellite technology becomes transformative," he said. 

Cruz also underscored the company’s proactive stance against online risks, noting that Globe was among the first operators globally to stop sending SMS messages containing links as early as five years ago. This pioneering move was designed to shield subscribers from potential scams and malicious content. The initiative reflects Globe’s broader mission to go beyond providing connectivity by educating and informing subscribers on digital safety.

“Being truly customer-centric means ensuring that our subscribers are safe in the digital space,” he said. “We operate in a world where connectivity is essential, but protection is equally critical. That’s why Globe made the call years ago to block SMS messages with links, and since 2021, we have successfully prevented more than 12 billion spam and scam messages from reaching our customers. It’s second nature to us because safeguarding our subscribers is part of our responsibility as a trusted network.”

Cruz likewise pointed to Globe’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, describing it not as an HR agenda but as a business philosophy. By ensuring its workforce reflects the diversity of the Filipino population, Globe strengthens its customer-centric culture and ability to serve varied needs across the nation.

He reaffirmed the company’s mission to create a safer digital space, uplift the lives of every Filipino by building meaningful connections, relentless care for customers and its people, and committing to the nation's progress through innovation and inclusivity. —AOL, GMA Integrated News