The Philippines will get the first satellites solely dedicated to the country to improve connectivity in far-flung areas.

This after Astranis and Orbits forged a collaboration on Wednesday to bring internet connectivity to unserved and underserved areas in the Philippines by launching MicroGEO satellites.

“Astranis and Orbits have also joined forces to bring internet connectivity to unserved and underserved areas in the Philippines. This $400 million partnership will help bridge our digital divide and foster our digital transformation,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said after the signing of the agreement at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Through the partnership, Orbits and Astranis will deploy the first two internet satellites dedicated to the Philippines, a program that is expected to generate US$400 million investment over the next eight years.

These MicroGEO satellites will provide internet service in the unserved and underserved areas of the Philippines, covering up to 10 million users and 30,000 barangays.

The program is projected to create more than 10,000 jobs for direct and indirect employees and partners.

During the event, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez announced the official name of the first satellite as “Agila” to foster the spirit of technological advancements and strengthening international partnerships.

The selection of the name Agila holds deep significance embodying the project’s unwavering commitment to connecting and empowering the Filipino nation through the expansion of access to the digital world.

The officials present were US Commerce Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Pamela Phan, Founder and CEO John Gedmark, Asia Pacific Astranis Space Technologies Corp. Commercial Sales Director Ajmair Heer, and Co-founder-Engineer Atty. Augusto Baculio. PND