Transpacific Broadband to pursue deal with Elon Musk’s Starlink for 2022 satellite broadband launch

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 28) — Listed Transpacific Broadband Group International, Inc. (TBGI) will seek negotiations with major satellite operators, including American billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink, as it eyes penetrating the satellite internet market next year.

The company aims to have a strong backing for its satellite broadband rollout in 2022, with its board of directors approving the plan to pursue discussions with Starlink.

In a filing to the local bourse, TBGI said it hopes to cover government units, businesses, and Filipino households with "advanced satellite internet services to meet their growing requirements for fast and reliable connectivity."

"LEOSAT technology offers a unique combination of affordability, speed, flexibility, ease-of-setup and a 27-millisecond low-latency bandwidth to deliver a superior online experience in the next level internet- of-things," the group added.

Starlink is a unit of aerospace firm SpaceX, which boasts 1,500 low-earth orbit satellites into space.

Jump starting this plan, TBGI sealed an agreement with ABS Global Ltd. on Wednesday “for the development and maintenance of multiple state-of-the-art earth stations in strategic areas nationwide specifically for LEOSAT connectivity."

It also executed managed service agreement (MSA) with ABS Global "specifically for LEOSAT earth stations of Starlink," which runs for a three-year period and is extendable for another three years.

The listed company focuses on public commercial radio, terrestrial, cable and satellite broadcast. It earns from internet, intranet, and local loop services subscriptions of schools, the private sector, and government agencies.

Local internet service providers have been exploring opportunities in the satellite market as this allows them to bring internet connectivity in remote areas amid the country's geographical features.

Converge ICT Solutions Inc., which provides fiber internet, earlier bared its hope to also team up with SpaceX for a potential broadband satellite venture.