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SES looking at bringing satellite telecom services in PH rural areas

SES looking at bringing satellite telecom services in PH rural areas

Provided by Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Satellite provider in talks with PH telco players for 4G, 5G deployment


MANILA, Philippines — Satellite telecommunications network provider SES is currently in talks with major telcos in the Philippines to accelerate the deployment of 4G and 5G networks in rural areas. 

“We're talking to all three of them,” said Harsh Verma, SES vice president for sales in the Asia-Pacific region. He was referring to Globe Telecom, PLDT’s Smart Communications, and DITO Telecommunity. 

In a media briefing on Thursday, he said that the Luxembourg-based firm has been working with PLDT-backed Cignal TV for its broadcast business. 

“Now we're trying to get into the mainstream of 4G and 5G deployments in rural areas, and bring direct-to-device capability into the Philippines,” he said. 

READ: New SES satellites seen to enhance internet connectivity

Verma said that by tapping this technology using satellites, telcos will not have to invest in infrastructure, like cell sites or ground stations, to communicate directly to consumers’ devices such as smartphones. 


Direct to consumer devices


“So they basically send the traffic to our O3b mPower satellite, and we just have one O3b mPower Gateway doing not only medium Earth Orbit but also bringing the direct-to-device capability using the same infrastructure,” he said. 

He said SES wants to build a direct-to-device gateway to further boost the digital access across the country, particularly in Mindanao, “where there are internet connectivity gaps.” 

The SES official said “discussions are in an advanced stage,” but that he could not disclose the other parties.

“But we are looking at the Philippines in a very strategic way. To get into the Philippines with one of the big brand names,” Verma added. 

READ: PH eyes launch of biggest, costliest satellite in 2025

SES has just launched its ninth and 10th O3b mPOWER satellites into space on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in the United States. 

SES said these two new satellites can enhance global coverage, especially serving mobility, government, enterprise, and cloud customers. 

Three more satellites are slated to launch next year.

/rwd

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