Globe Telecom stated that it will be the first operator in Southeast Asia to offer direct-to-cell satellite connectivity, becoming the second Asian carrier to collaborate with SpaceX on satellite data communications, following Japan's KDDI.
The Manila-based operator announced the service will use SpaceX's Starlink network, which currently comprises more than 650 low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites, to deliver data, voice, and SMS directly to standard LTE mobile handsets. Globe said the capability is designed to extend mobile coverage and resilience across the Philippines' archipelago of more than 7,600 islands, where geography can limit terrestrial network reach and complicate disaster response.
Globe's deployment follows KDDI's partnership with SpaceX to launch the first official satellite data service, branded as "au Starlink Direct", in Japan. Globe's agreement makes it the second Asian operator to join SpaceX's satellite data initiatives, positioning the company to provide continuous basic mobile services in areas where terrestrial infrastructure is unavailable or disrupted.
In parallel, Globe has entered a partnership with Taiwanese cybersecurity firm Gogolook to deliver anti-fraud and security solutions to its user base, which the company said exceeds 60 million subscribers. The tie-up is presented as complementary to the satellite offering by addressing threats that affect mobile users regardless of access method.
Elsewhere in the region, Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom has formed a strategic alliance with US-based Astranis to deploy third-generation MicroGEO small geostationary satellites, with services targeted for launch by 2026. Chunghwa Telecom cited the need to mitigate risks from natural disasters, submarine cable outages, and shifting geopolitical dynamics as drivers for its satellite initiative.
Taiwan Mobile and FarEasTone have not announced independent satellite projects but continue to invest in network technologies, including research and development related to 6G and low Earth orbit satellites. Operators and regulators in the region will monitor how satellite-to-cell services integrate with existing mobile ecosystems and affect coverage, emergency communications, and competition.
Article edited by Jack Wu
