The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has chosen SpaceX’s Starlink to provide free internet connection in remote areas of the Philippines.

According to DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy, the portability of the SpaceX kit makes it perfect for the country’s far-flung areas.

“It’s plug and play. It’s very portable,” Uy said when he presented a sample of the Starlink kit to media yesterday.

Uy also revealed that they are working hand in hand with Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, to facilitate the availability in the country.

“We have been helping SpaceX and Starlink in facilitating requirements that they have to go through so they can bring this technology up and running at the soonest possible time,” he said.

For the best part, Uy said that they are looking to provide the Starlink internet service for free as the government has available funds to implement the project under the Free WiFi Program.

“The Broadband ng Masa project is actually linked to the Free WiFi project. The challenge has always been these far-flung areas that do not have this broadband connectivity because the telcos find it not suitable, not feasible for them to make those kinds of investments in those areas,” he said.

For now, he advised Filipinos to be patient as they are already discussing with SpaceX the scope and the commercial terms of the project.