Internet satellite ‘Agila’ soaring seen

SAN FRANCISCO, California — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Wednesday (US time) that the Philippines will shortly get its first Internet satellites to enhance connection in remote areas after Astranis and Orbits inked an agreement to launch MicroGEO satellites to provide Internet service to underserved and unserved parts of the Philippines.

During the signing of the agreement on the sidelines of his participation in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit here, Marcos said that Orbits and Astranis will launch the first two Internet satellites intended explicitly for the Philippines.

The President stressed that up to 10 million customers and 30,000 barangays in the Philippines would be serviced by these MicroGEO satellites, offering Internet connectivity in underserved and unserved areas.

He added that the agreement would help create more than 10,000 jobs for direct and indirect employees and partners.

"Astranis and Orbits have also joined forces to bring Internet connectivity to unserved and underserved areas in the Philippines. This $400 million partnership will help bridge our digital divide and foster our digital transformation," Marcos said.

In a separate statement, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said the official name of the first satellite will be "Agila."

Romualdez said that the project's steadfast dedication to uniting and empowering the Filipino people through increased access to the digital world is embodied in the word Agila, which has great meaning.