PLDT and Canada-based global satellite operator Telesat operator have successfully conducted the Philippines’ first on-orbit testing of high-speed broadband connectivity.
This developed as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) yesterday reported billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX is firming up its planned investment in the Philippines following the ratification of the proposed amendments to the Public Service Act that allows full foreign ownership for satellite internet services in the country and not requiring legislative franchise for public services.
Telesat’s phase 1 low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite marks PLDT as the country’s leading provider of communication services over satellite technology.
A first for Telesat with any operator in Southeast Asia, the testing was conducted from February 11 to 19 using an 85-cm Intellian parabolic antenna stationed at the PLDT office in Greenhills, San Juan to connect to the LEO satellite.
The live test and demonstration saw broadband download and upload speeds of 100.46 megabits per second (Mbps) and 95.62 Mbps, respectively, and roundtrip latency of 26.53ms, which enabled a seamless meeting experience over Microsoft Teams, as well as mobile online gaming without lag, video streaming without buffering and Facebook Live, via LEO satellite.
“This year, with our successful test with Telesat, we are a step closer to bringing satellite connectivity innovations and services to businesses and homes in the deepest rural and remote areas of the country,” said Mario Tamayo, PLDT and Smart head of technology said.
Arvin Siena, PLDT and Smart head of technology strategy and transformation said compared to geo-stationary satellites which are located in space 35,000 kilometers away from the earth, LEO satellites are significantly closer at around 500 to 2,000 kilometers above the earth’s surface, allowing the delivery of higher bandwidth with lower latency, and deeper penetration to mountains, valleys, and remote islands, for use especially by enterprises that require high-speed data for high-definition video conferencing, remote desktop connections, and remote business operations, for example. This particular test utilized Telesat’s Phase 1 LEO satellite at an altitude of 500 kilometers and we were really impressed by the results which are comparable to the speed and latency provided by a regular cell site.
Meanwhile, DTI Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo in a statement said he and other trade officials met with SpaceX executives to followup on the company’s to offer satellite internet services in the Philippines, particularly on providing broadband connectivity to remote areas where traditional internet (based on land cables) is limited or virtually absent.
In November last year, Rodolfo and other trade officials met with SpaceX executives led by Rebecca Hunter, senior manager for government affairs and Brian Schepis Sr., manager for market access to discuss the company’s plan to put up a Philippine-registered company that will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of SpaceX Exploration Technologies Corp, a US corporation.
SpaceX is a global space launch provider that deploys the world’s most advanced satellite broadband internet system, called Starlink, which provides satellite internet access to most of the Earth.
Rodolfo said with the entry of Starlink into the Philippines, high-speed satellite broadband connectivity is expected to be delivered to customers nationwide, specifically in areas where connectivity has been a challenge.
Starlink’s constellation consisted of over 1,600 satellites as of mid-2021, and will eventually consist of thousands of mass-produced small satellites in LEO, which communicate with designated ground transceivers.
Although the technical possibility of satellite internet service covers most of the global population, actual service can be delivered only in countries that have licensed SpaceX to provide service within any specific national jurisdiction. As of September last year, the beta service offering is available in 17 countries. – Irma Isip and Myla Iglesias
