San Francisco, California — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has achieved a groundbreaking milestone for the Philippines by securing the nation’s inaugural internet satellite.

This strategic move is anticipated to significantly enhance connectivity, particularly in remote areas across the country.

The signing of the agreement took place in San Francisco, California, with Marcos overseeing the collaboration between California-based Astranis Space Technologies and the Philippine-based satellite firm Orbits Corporation.

This historic event occurred on the sidelines of the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.

Addressing the significance of the partnership, Marcos expressed, “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,” following the formalization of the agreement.

Under this collaboration, Orbits and Astranis are set to deploy the first two dedicated internet satellites for the Philippines.

This initiative is expected to attract a $400 million investment over the next eight years. The MicroGEO satellites are designed to provide internet services to unserved and underserved areas, benefiting up to 10 million users and 30,000 villages (barangay).

The program is not only anticipated to improve connectivity but also create economic opportunities. Over 10,000 jobs are projected to be generated for both direct and indirect employees and partners, contributing to the overall growth of the digital infrastructure.

At the summit, Jose Manuel Romualdez, the Philippine Ambassador to the United States, revealed the official name of the first satellite as “Agila,” symbolizing technological advancement and fostering international partnerships. Romualdez stated, “The selection of the name ‘Agila’ or the Philippine eagle holds deep significance, embodying the project’s unwavering commitment to empowering the Filipino nation through the expansion of access to the digital world.”

(AI/MNM)