Globe Telecom Partners With Nine Handset Makers to Expand Satellite Connectivity

KEY TAKEAWAYS

·Globe Telecom is partnering with Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Huawei, Tecno, Realme, Infinix, and Honor to embed satellite connectivity into Android handsets following its June Starlink launch.
·The telco has also optimized Google Maps, Messenger, WhatsApp, and its own GlobeOne and Globe Benta apps for satellite service, with packages starting at 99 pesos for 30 days.
·Globe aims to connect the remaining four percent of Filipinos in geographically isolated areas, having activated 52 such locations in July toward a 180-site government commitment.

Device Partnerships Accelerate Rollout

Globe Telecom has signed partnerships with nine of the world's largest handset manufacturers to integrate satellite connectivity capabilities directly into their Android devices. The collaboration includes Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Huawei, Tecno, Realme, Infinix, and Honor.

The Philippine telecommunications company launched Southeast Asia's first commercial satellite-to-device service in June through a partnership with Starlink. The service routes mobile traffic through low-earth-orbit satellites when terrestrial towers are unavailable. Now Globe is moving upstream to ensure the hardware ecosystem can support the technology at scale.

Android devices represent the majority of connections on Globe's network, making manufacturer collaboration essential for widespread adoption. The telco is focusing on device-level readiness rather than relying solely on software updates or external accessories.

Application Layer Integration

Beyond hardware, Globe is coordinating with platform providers to optimize performance over satellite links. Google Maps, Messenger, and WhatsApp have already been configured to function on the satellite service, according to Globe. The company has also adapted its own GlobeOne app and Globe Benta platform for space-based connectivity.

The dual approach addresses both device compatibility and application behavior, which can differ significantly when latency and bandwidth constraints shift from fiber or cellular to satellite relay.

Globe's satellite-to-device packages start at 99 pesos for 30 days and 299 pesos for 90 days, both including 10 GB of data and 500 satellite text messages. The pricing positions the service as a supplement to terrestrial coverage rather than a primary connection.

Targeting the Last Four Percent

Globe chief commercial officer Darius Delgado framed the satellite initiative as a solution for areas where tower construction faces geographic or economic barriers. The company is prioritizing geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, known locally as GIDAs, where roughly four percent of the Philippine population remains unconnected to Globe's network.

In July, Globe activated mobile internet in 52 GIDA locations as part of a commitment to the Department of Information and Communications Technology to reach 180 such sites. Satellite connectivity offers a faster deployment path than building traditional cell sites in mountainous or island terrain.

The Philippines' archipelagic geography has long complicated infrastructure rollout for telecom operators. More than 7,600 islands create natural coverage gaps that require either undersea fiber, microwave backhaul, or satellite relay to bridge. Globe's partnership with Starlink offers a third option that bypasses the need for terrestrial middle-mile infrastructure.

Regional Context

Globe's move reflects a broader shift in Asia-Pacific telecom strategy. Operators across the region are experimenting with non-terrestrial networks to extend coverage without the capital intensity of traditional tower builds. Starlink has signed similar agreements with carriers in Japan and New Zealand, though Globe was the first in Southeast Asia to launch a commercial service.

The partnerships with handset makers signal that satellite connectivity is moving from niche emergency feature to standard capability in mainstream Android devices. If manufacturers embed the necessary chipsets and antennas across product lines, satellite access could become as ubiquitous as LTE or 5G radios within two to three device cycles.

For Globe, the immediate goal is closing the coverage gap in underserved regions. The longer-term implication is a telecommunications architecture that blends terrestrial and orbital infrastructure, reducing the traditional distinction between cellular and satellite networks.

Asia's overnight moves, distilled into a five-minute read.

Device Partnerships Accelerate Rollout

Application Layer Integration

Targeting the Last Four Percent

Regional Context

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