The National Telecommunications Commission is pressing Starlink Internet Services Philippines, Inc. of billionaire Elon Musk to expedite the accomplishment of its regulatory requirements to finally kick off its commercial operations nationwide.

In a press statement on Thursday, NTC Officer-in-Charge Commissioner Ella Blanca B. Lopez said Starlink’s rollout will complement the existing efforts of telecommunications firms to provide users with reliable and fast internet services.

“The Commission continues to work with Starlink in ensuring the latter’s immediate commercial roll-out provided it complies with all existing and subsequent laws, circulars, orders rules, and regulations,” Lopez said.

“Starlink’s internet service offering is a welcome development in achieving President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.’s plan to digitally link the archipelago,” she added.

According to the NTC, Starlink’s User Terminals are classified as customer premise equipment and not to be subjected the same to radio station licensing as it nears its commercial roll-out.

The Commission’s approval, however, requires Starlink to comply, among others, filing its application for the modification of its type acceptance certificates with the NTC’s Equipment Standards Division.

Starlink was also mandated to go through the Commission’s Regulation Branch, National Capital Region regional office, and Radio Spectrum Planning Division to obtain permits to import, product registration, and submission of an Affidavit of Undertaking.

A Starlink kit costs $599 or approximately P33,000, and monthly internet services with no data cap cost $99 or about P5,5000. It boasts speeds of up to 200 Mbps and latency as low as 20 ms for residential use.

Philippines will be the first in Southeast Asia to avail of such technology, which can fill the connectivity gaps, especially in the unserved and underserved areas.

The Starlink constellation consists of over 1,600 satellites in mid-2021, and will eventually comprise thousands more mass-produced small satellites in LEO, which communicate with designated ground transceivers.