Philippines Leads Asia in Satellite Calling | Tech News

The Philippines just became Southeast Asia’s first country to launch Starlink’s direct-to-cell service, letting regular smartphones connect to satellites for calls, texts, and data—even in remote island areas. Globe Telecom powers the rollout, offering lifeline connectivity for the 4% of Filipinos previously cut off, including during a recent earthquake. Meanwhile, China’s Spacesail has also achieved direct-to-cell voice calls using standard 5G phones via its own low-Earth orbit satellites, creating a domestic alternative to Starlink. This dual innovation signals a shift toward regional satellite competition, with Japan preparing to follow. While profitability remains uncertain, the tech could boost mobile plans or serve as a critical backup—marking the dawn of a new era in global connectivity. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/719f6afefb150969