By: Ruffy Magbanua
MANILA – It’s all systems go for Orbits Satellite Corporation to improve internet connectivity in 5,000 remote areas involving 2-M people following the recent successful launch of Astranis’ internet satellite named Agila, the first satellite dedicated to the Philippines, said Orbits Satellite Corporation President and CEO Lawyer Augusto Baculio, Jr.
Orbits is a satellite service provider that had partnered with Astranis Space Technologies Corporation, a US-based space communications company focusing on providing satellite internet services via geostationary communication satellites.
Baculio, a former lawmaker from Misamis Oriental and now a dedicated entrepreneur said the installation of internet satellite country-wide will provide reliable, affordable internet connectivity in remote and rural communities of the country.
Orbits which has already installed its high tech satellite facility in Subic Freeport in Olongapo, Zambales will also serve government agencies, ports, airports, police stations, and hospitals, Baculio said.
No less than President Ferdinand “Bongbong“Marcos Jr had acknowledged Astranis and Orbits for joining forces to bring internet connectivity to unserved and underserved areas in the country. “This partnership will help bridge our digital divide and foster our digital transformation,” said Marcos during signing ceremony held in Malacanang late last year.
Astranis’ satellites use a geosynchronous orbit (GEO), which is about 22,000 miles away from Earth’s surface. This allows the satellite to stay above a fixed location, matching the Earth’s rotation.
How the internet satellite works:
A satellite in orbit around the Earth transmits internet signals
A satellite dish on the ground receives the signals and communicates with the satellite
A router, preferably Wi-Fi enabled, connects the dish to devices on the network
Benefits
Satellite internet is available in remote areas where cables and cell towers are not present
It’s the only internet service that can reach an entire nation
It’s a good option for rural homes and businesses
Earlier, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said the official name of the first satellite would be Agila, after the country’s national bird, the Philippine Eagle.
“The selection of the name Agila holds deep significance embodying the project’s unwavering commitment to connecting and empowering the Filipino nation through the expansion of access to the digital world,” Romualdez explained.
Orbits’ satellite program is projected to create direct and indirect jobs, accelerating economic growth and development in many of the smallest and most remote communities in the country.
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