(Featured photo credit to Globe Telecom Newsroom: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. graces the landmark launch of Globe and Starlink’s Direct‑to‑Cell satellite service in the Philippines, a breakthrough initiative set to expand digital inclusion and ensure no Filipino is left offline. Joining him in the historic moment (left to right) are Globe President and CEO Carl Cruz, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda, Hon. Jorge Daniel Bocobo, District Representative of the City of Taguig, Globe Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, and Starlink Senior Partnerships Manager Damien Innes.)
Globe Telecom is about to roll out something that could change how Filipinos stay connected.
The company is preparing to launch Direct to Cell Technology in the Philippines. It will be the first in Southeast Asia and second in Asia to offer this service.
For a country made up of over 7,000 islands, that matters. The Philippines has mountains, remote beaches, and hard to reach communities where traditional cell towers struggle. There are still areas where signal bars disappear without warning.
This new technology aims to fix that.
Through its partnership with Starlink, Globe will allow LTE enabled phones to connect directly to satellites during broad and clear skies. No special device. No satellite phone. Just your regular LTE handset.
In early tests conducted across different parts of the country, results were strong. According to Chito Santos Maniago, Senior Director and Head of Public Relations and Strategic Communication at Globe, the trials showed the service works. His confidence level? 101 percent.
The company is targeting a rollout at the peak of summer, ahead of the usual disaster months. That timing is deliberate.
When typhoons hit and cell towers go down, communication becomes the first casualty. With Starlink Direct to Cell Technology, users can still send messages even if ground infrastructure is damaged. For an archipelagic country frequently hit by storms, this adds a layer of resilience.
Globe also made it clear this move is not about profit. The partnership is part of its commitment to reach 100 percent of Filipinos, including those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
Details about pricing and availment will be announced soon. Globe says the goal is to keep the service affordable and accessible.
What This Means for Travel Content Creators and Writers Like Me
For travel content creators in the Philippines, this is a big shift.
Remote waterfalls in Mindanao. Mountain trails in the Cordilleras. Sandbars in Palawan. These are often places where signal drops to zero. Uploading content, sending updates, or even coordinating with brands becomes difficult.
With Globe Telecom and Starlink Direct to Cell Technology, creators can stay reachable in areas that used to be dead zones.
That means:
- Faster coordination with tourism partners
- Real time posting from remote destinations
- Reliable communication during location shoots
- Added safety layer during off grid trips
It changes how stories are told. Instead of waiting to return to the city to post, creators can share experiences closer to real time.
For a country that thrives on travel storytelling, stronger connectivity across islands and mountains opens new creative ground.
Globe Telecom’s push with Starlink Direct to Cell Technology signals one thing clearly: connection should not depend on geography.