The United States government and Philippine partners have successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of satellite broadband technology in remote areas of the Philippines as part of a U.S.-supported program to provide fast and reliable internet connectivity to the country. The program, called Introducing Non-Geostationary Satellite Constellations Test Deployments to Improve Internet Service (INCENTIVISE), was launched by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and the Department of Science and Technology’s Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in October 2021. Through INCENTIVISE, PhilSA invites satellite operators to conduct pilot tests in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) to assess the viability of satellite broadband technology and its performance in the country. USAID facilitated PhilSA’s procurement of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet services for Barangay Dikapanikian in Dingalan, Aurora and Barangay Apad in Jomalig, Quezon. Residents in these pilot areas have cited the positive impact of the program, particularly in the education and healthcare sectors. USAID and its partners will continue to identify other GIDA sites to test the viability and effectiveness of satellite broadband technology. By supporting the Philippines to modernize its digital infrastructure through programs like INCENTIVISE, USAID aims to improve the country’s access to the global market, facilitate communication and information exchange, and foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
