Bill seeking franchise for Elon Musk's Starlink filed in Senate

A bill seeking to grant a 25-year legislative franchise for Starlink Internet Services Philippines Inc. has been filed in the Senate.

Senator Grace Poe filed Senate Bill 2844 which seeks to allow Starlink to construct, maintain, and operate satellite ground stations to provide internet services in the Philippines.

In filing the bill, Poe explained that while Starlink Philippines has been granted accreditation as a Satellite Systems Provide and/or Operator by the Department of Information and Communications Technology and registered a Value-Added Service provider by the National Telecommunications Commission, a legislative franchise is needed "so it can further improve its services by constructing and operating gateway earth stations."

Citing Republic Act 3846 or the Radio Control Act, Poe explained that gateway earth stations qualify as "radio stations" which requires legislative franchise.

Starlink Philippines is a subsidiary of Starlink Satellite Services Corporation which launched the world's first and largest satellite constellation.

Apart from the legal reasons, Poe also cited the need to provide accessible, reliable and affordable internet services to Filipinos.

One of the studies cited by Poe is the most recent national census which found that only 56.1% of Filipino households can access the internet at home while 42.1% can access it via mobile broadband networks

"The disparity in access has wide-ranging effects on the Philippine economy. Poor internet access limits the opportunities available to Filipinos, particularly for low-income households," Poe said.

Poe said a deficit in digital skills and internet access will result in citizens who are unprepared for future jobs.

Likewise, the senator said poor internet access also leads to low technology adoption and limited innovation and productivity growth by firms, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises.

"The entry of Starlink in the Philippines seeks to bridge the digital gap by providing satellite-based internet connectivity in areas not covered by traditional terrestrial networks and in remote areas where it is difficult to build telecommunications infrastructure," Poe said.

"The use of satellite technology is particularly well-suited in an archipelago like the Philippines, where large portions of the population live in rural areas and isolated islands," she added. —RF, GMA Integrated News