Philippines gets first internet satellites, to launch in 2024

The new satellite ‘Agila’ expects to connect the country’s most remote islands.

In a bid to improve connectivity in far-flung areas, the Philippine government signed an agreement to purchase the country’s first internet satellites.

In a statement, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said the government partnered with Astranis Space Technologies, a company which specialises in building small satellites for broadband connectivity.

Astranis, and another satellite service provider, Orbits, have collaborated for the deployment of MicroGEO satellites dedicated to the Philippines.

“Astranis and Orbits joined forces to bring internet connectivity to unserved and underserved areas in the Philippines. This partnership will help bridge our digital divide and foster our digital transformation,” said Marcos during the recent signing ceremony.

The US-based satellite manufacturer will deploy the first two internet satellites dedicated to the Philippines by the first quarter of 2024, through a program that is expected to generate a $400 million investment over the next eight years.

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said the official name of the first satellite would be “Agila,” after the country’s national bird, the Philippine Eagle.

“The selection of the name Agila holds deep significance embodying the project’s unwavering commitment to connecting and empowering the Filipino nation through the expansion of access to the digital world,” the statement read.

The launching of the MicroGEO satellites is expected to provide internet service in the Philippines, covering up to 10 million users and 30,000 barangays.

The two-satellite program is also projected to create more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs in the Philippines, accelerating economic growth and development in many of the smallest and most remote communities in the country.