Globe-Starlink service rollout eyed in June

Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. is set to launch its direct-to-cell (DTC) satellite service in partnership with Starlink by next month, initially for Android users and subject to regulatory clearance, a top official said Wednesday.

According to Globe chief commercial officer Darius Delgado, Starlink Mobile will initially offer two packages — P99 for 30 days and P299 for 90 days — with possible adjustments depending on market response.

“This is a new technology in the industry, and we spent time to make sure it serves its purpose when we launch,” Delgado said during a virtual briefing.

Starlink’s DTC service is a satellite-to-mobile wireless technology developed by SpaceX, Starlink’s parent company. It provides connectivity in remote areas where traditional terrestrial networks are unavailable, using LTE-enabled phones that connect directly to satellites acting as “cell towers in space.”

Globe completed its first live trial of Starlink Mobile in March, with testing conducted in parts of Rizal, Batangas, and Bataan. The company said the tests confirmed the service’s feasibility.

The partnership was first announced in January and aims to expand mobile signal and internet access to underserved and remote areas, particularly across the Philippines’ more than 7,600 islands.

Globe earlier reported a 9% increase in core net income for the first quarter of the year, as consolidated gross service revenues rose 5% to P42 billion.—MCG, GMA News