Satellite Internet Coverage Expands in Southeast Asia

Foreign media reported on June 9th, local time, about the current progress of satellite Internet deployment in Southeast Asia.

Due to the geopolitical factors in many Southeast Asian countries, especially the sovereignty disputes between the Philippines, Vietnam and the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) in the South China Sea Islands, which may lead to the cutoff of ground communication baselines. As most countries in Southeast Asia are island countries, the cost of land-based Internet deployment is expensive, and it does not have a favorable network coverage and speed, satellite Internet becomes the best way to network.

It is reported that the Philippines approved Starlink access on May 27th, and Elon Musk then announced that Starlink Wi-Fi would be unveiled in Southeast Asia in a few months, and this comes after the Philippines successfully completed a bandwidth connectivity test in February using Canada’s telesat, which operates at low altitude like the Starlink satellite. Japan’s Sky Perfect JSAT has also been providing satellite Internet service in the Philippines, which is used to remotely monitor wind turbines in the north. Globe Telecom, the local rival of Sky Perfect JSAT, and US satellite operator AST SpaceMobile also signed a memorandum to provide services in the Philippines.

It is expected that satellite Internet service, or Sky Wi-Fi, will initially be used by companies in remote areas as well as for emergency preparedness by government agencies, military, and media organizations. The entering of more players brings price competition, which will then cover the general users.