Intelsat first foreign GEO satellite operator licensed in PHL

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan Uy shaking hands with Jose Toscano, Intelsat’s Managing Director of Government Affairs.

Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks, has become the first foreign GEO satellite operator licensed to sell products in the Philippines.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) granted Intelsat a Satellite Service Providers and Operators (SPPOs) license. This allows Intelsat to provide satellite access and backhaul solutions to mobile network operators, telecommunications carriers, and internet service providers (ISPs) across the archipelago’s 7,600 islands.

The license will enable Intelsat’s partners in the Philippines to extend cellular networks beyond existing terrestrial limits, providing 4G coverage anywhere in the country. It will also allow ISPs to offer internet access to residents in remote Barangays and add redundancy and resilience to microwave and fiber networks.

“We are dedicated to empowering a range of customers across the MNO, enterprise, and ISP segments by addressing their mission-critical requirements, offering service-level guarantees, and delivering comprehensive end-to-end integration and operational support, all customized to suit their distinctive and demanding operating landscapes,” said Gaurav Kharod, regional vice president of Asia Pacific Sales at Intelsat.

In a recent study of internet resilience, the Philippines scored 7 out of 11 compared to other Southeast Asian countries. With a population of over 110 million and more than 7,000 islands, Intelsat aims to address connectivity gaps and provide first-rate customer service for all.