Dennis Gaviola

Article (news)

Jekki Pascual

ABS-CBN News

Globe and Starlink have announced a new service allowing mobile phone users to connect to the internet even in remote areas without a cell signal.This Direct to Cell (DTC) satellite service connects LTE devices and allows users to access mobile services and online apps in far-flung areas as long as there is a line of sight to the sky. This is the first of its kind service in Southeast Asia, the second in Asia and the 8th in the world.  Globe President and CEO Carl Cruz said, “This is a landmark event for the Philippines. It puts us on the global map. One of only eight countries where the service is being offered is now in the Philippines.”He added, “Whether you are in a very remote area, you are in the mountainous region, so long you have direct line of sight. As I said even in some cities where unfortunately there’s no network coverage for a number of reasons, this can also kick in.”<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/1/16/globe-starlink-partnership-complements-gov-t-efforts-in-digital-inclusion-marcos-jr-1609">Globe-Starlink partnership complements gov’t efforts in digital inclusion: Marcos Jr.</a></div>Globe will launch this service likely in the first quarter of 2026 and will announce pricing plans soon. But this will be available to all Globe users and once registered and your phone is on roaming mode, the service automatically begins when the cell signal is gone. This can also work abroad particularly in countries where Starlink is also accessible through reciprocal access.“If you are a partner of Starlink like Globe, and if you go abroad and there is no signal in that area, once you are subscribed to that promo, you can get access,” said Gerhard Tan, Globe Senior Director and Head of Technology Strategy and Innovation. Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda welcomes this new service saying the country would now become 100 percent connected.“Once they launch this, buong Pilipinas may connectivity na. I think the challenge nila Carl ngayon is just to sustain the affordability they are offering,” said Aguda.But even with the launch of this satellite service, both Aguda and Cruz said investments in fiber and mobile cell sites will continue in order to have more options in the connectivity arena. Globe said it has a capital expenditure of a billion US dollars this year. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/11/7/globe-net-income-revenues-down-in-first-9-months-of-the-year-1231">Globe net income, revenues down in first 9 months of the year</a></div>“Bakit kailangan pa ng fiber optic cable? Ang fiber optic cable kailangan natin yan para sa loob ng bahay sa loob ng building maganda ang signal. Bakit kailangan pa natin ng mga mobile towers? Kailangan pa rin natin yan for outdoor signal,” Aguda said highlighting that the country needs to expand fiber network, mobile network, and satellite service.Cruz added, “We need the fiber network. Simple because in the advent of AI, the data traffic projections will be probably not only twofold, but probably 10-50 fold moving forward.”Globe will announce the price of the new service soon, but Cruz vowed it will be affordable. He added that initially he expects no profit from this new offer for now.

Globe and Starlink have announced a new service allowing mobile phone users to connect to the internet even in remote areas without a cell signal.

Globe and Starlink have announced a new service allowing mobile phone users to connect to the internet even in remote areas without a cell signal.

No signal? Globe, Starlink to launch direct to cell

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No signal? Globe, Starlink to launch direct to cell

Jekki Pascual,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 17, 2026 12:12 AM PHT

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Updated January 18, 2026 12:55 AM PHT

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Globe

Starlink

Direct to cell

Philippines

DICT

Internet

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