Elon Musk’s Starlink, the satellite Internet division of his rocket company SpaceX, has been approved in the Philippines, Nigeria, and Mozambique.
According to CNN Philippines, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) approved the registration of Starlink Internet Services Philippines Inc. as a value-added service (VAS) provider in a statement issued on Friday.
“Starlink’s VAS registration now allows the company to directly access satellite systems, build and operate broadband facilities to offer internet services. The NTC’s swift processing of Starlink’s VAS provider registration was meant to expedite the service’s immediate roll-out,” the regulator was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, the CEO informed its Twitter users via a tweet that “Starlink approved by The Philippines”.
He also announced that the satellite internet service has been approved in Nigeria and Mozambique in another tweet.
“Starlink approved by Nigeria and Mozambique,” he wrote on the microblogging site.
According to a report this month, Starlink is now available in 32 countries, up from 25 reported earlier this year.
Musk was recently asked for an update on Starlink’s approval in India, to which he responded, “we are waiting for government approval.”
Musk claimed in June of last year that Starlink would span the globe, including India, within months. However, its plans to establish a presence in the country were thwarted.
Starlink registered its business in India through a local unit, Starlink Satellite Communications, with an April launch date in mind.
However, the Ministry of Communications’ Department of Telecommunications warned Starlink in December to obtain the necessary permissions to offer satellite-based Internet services in India.
Without a license, the government ordered Starlink to stop “booking/rendering the satellite internet service” in India.
Starlink later announced that it would apply for a commercial license in India by January 31, but has yet to do so.
