It is always one of the greatest challenges we always have as humans to make all our life worthwhile. With this, we always tend to do and explore a lot of different knowledge that will give us room for innovations in many different aspects of our lives.
Technology is one branch where innovations and growth are really fast and very productive. Also because it is one of the most prominent and vital parts of our everyday living. Machines, mobile devices, and satellites that make communications and works more efficient are just some of the greatest contribution of technology to the Earth and humanity. Making work easier for all, aiding natural inabilities, and beating the distance by connecting people together are some of the main goals and purposes of this development.
This is why the Philippines has never been more excited when we got the news that Elon Musk’s SpaceX is preparing to enter the Philippine Market, and is currently preparatory activities like site selection as said by the Department of Trade.
For those who do not know yet, Elon Elon Reeve Musk FRS is an entrepreneur, investor, and business magnate. He is the founder, CEO, and Chief Engineer at SpaceX. He is also an early-stage investor, CEO, and Product Architect of Tesla, Inc., and he founded The Boring Company and co-founded the Neuralink and OpenAI. With an estimated net worth of around US$273 billion as of April 2022, Musk is the wealthiest person in the world according to both the Bloomberg Billionaires Index and the Forbes real-time billionaires list. That is why the Philippines, being chosen as the first Southeast Asian country to be visited by SpaceX, is very thrilled to accept this venture.
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) is an American aerospace manufacturer that provides space transportation services. It is also a communications corporation headquartered in Hawthorne, California. SpaceX was founded by Elon Musk in 2002 with the objective of reducing space transportation costs to enable the colonization of Mars. SpaceX manufactures the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles, several rocket engines, Cargo Dragon, crew spacecraft, and Starlink communications satellites. SpaceX's achievements include the first privately funded liquid-propellant rocket to reach orbit around Earth, the first private company to successfully launch, orbit, and recover a spacecraft, the first private company to send a spacecraft to the International Space Station, the first vertical take-off and vertical propulsive landing for an orbital rocket, the first reuse of an orbital rocket, and the first private company to send astronauts to orbit and to the International Space Station.
SpaceX’ said the entrance to the country will be launching its Starling Satellite Service. Starlink is developing a satellite internet constellation that can provide commercial internet service. In January 2020, the Starlink constellation became the largest satellite constellation ever launched, and as of April 2022, it comprises 2,103 satellites in orbit.
“(SpaceX is) still finalizing investment figures. But, (it is) selecting sites already for their gateways, (looking) both at major cities and suburbs,” Mr. Lopez said.
Mr. Lopez said the DTI will assist SpaceX in registering for incentives with the Board of Investments (BoI). Its activities qualify under the Strategic Investment Priority Plan governing the granting of incentives. It also qualifies for expedited processing of permits under the Ease of Doing Business law.
According to the DTI, the Philippines is acknowledged to be the first country in Southeast Asia to avail of SpaceX’s technology, which will bring high-speed satellite broadband connectivity to areas where connectivity has been difficult or impossible. And this will definitely be very great news to many businesses and the workforce that we have.
Mr. Lopez also said that the DTI met with SpaceX senior executives Rebecca Hunter and Ryan Goodnight, National Telecommunications Commission Deputy Commissioner Edgardo V. Cabarios, and DFNN, Inc. Executive Chairman Ramon C. Garcia, Jr. on March 30 to discuss the project.
In a separate statement, the DTI said SpaceX is currently establishing a company in the Philippines that will serve as its wholly-owned subsidiary. “(The company) is targeting to deploy three gateways in the first phase of the launch,” the DTI said.
Mr. Lopez said that the launch of SpaceX will raise broadband speeds, improve connectivity, and add capacity for telecommunications services and bring down rates.
According to the DTI, SpaceX is bullish on the Philippines’ growing consumer base and improved investment climate.
“The signing of the amended Public Service Act (PSA), which allows up to 100% foreign ownership of public services, was a critical factor in (SpaceX’s) decision to invest, as all its technologies are proprietary,” the DTI said.
The BoI and SpaceX discussed the latter’s entry into the Philippine market during an investment mission in November.
“This was followed by a series of online meetings with the company…, an update session in February 2022, and another in early March to discuss further its business plans in the Philippines in line with the amendment of the PSA. At present, their application is being processed and the locations of their gateways are being visited,” the DTI said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
The Philippines are very lucky and blessed because technology like this can absolutely create a great circle of opportunities. Developments like this are an aroma that will soothe investors into putting up businesses in our country most especially those who are in the line of technological developments.
Also, since growth is very inevitable and almost 90% of the world’s population are users and consumers of technologies, it will be very pleasing to have a high-speed communication availability that can also increase in a very large manner the work efficiency of the consumers. All members of a family will surely enjoy being here in our country. Added to the lovely scenery we can offer that will no longer limit connectivity due to location and demographics, thanks to SpaceX’s Starlink.
Being the first country in Southeast Asia to have this technology will also make us an apple of the eye of investors. This technology will surely increase the demand for devices to really test their specs which will hype the consumption of gadgets most especially knowing the behavior of the market that we have. With these, the competition for many businesses will also increase. This will increase the economic benefits for our country since labor work will be open and available for the workforce.
It is always one of the greatest challenges we always have as humans to make all our life worthwhile. With this, SpaceX Starlink here in the Philippines, we are all hoping to have a great a lot of great opportunity for everyone.
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