Globe Telecom has activated satellite-to-mobile services in parts of Mindanao affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake, using Starlink technology to help restore emergency communications in areas hit by network disruptions.
The service has been deployed in South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani following the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) approval of a demo permit for the initiative.
Globe said the rollout marks its first use of Starlink’s satellite-to-mobile technology for disaster response in the Philippines.
The deployment is expected to benefit more than 700,000 Globe and TM customers in the affected areas by allowing them to send vital messages through SMS and WhatsApp while regular network facilities are still being restored.
The company said the service will be offered free of charge for up to 30 days to support communities affected by the earthquake.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to support our kababayans in Mindanao and we hope that through the demo permits previously issued by the NTC, this deployment will demonstrate how this technology really works,” Globe president and chief executive officer Carl Cruz said.
“This initial deployment will show how satellite-to-mobile technology can provide communications support and strengthen network resilience during these times,” he added.
The earthquake prompted the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology to issue tsunami warnings for several coastal communities in Southern Mindanao.
It also caused service interruptions in multiple provinces, with around 30 municipalities affected as commercial power outages disrupted telecommunications facilities in several areas.
Globe said it is coordinating with local government units and electric cooperatives to fully restore services in the hardest-hit locations.
The company will directly contact customers in covered areas to provide instructions on how to connect to the satellite service using their existing Globe SIM cards and Long Term Evolution (LTE)-enabled phones.