Philippine company Orbits Corp has announced a partnership with US-based communications satellite operator Astranis to bring the first-ever dedicated internet satellite to the Philippines. The satellite is expected to provide sufficient bandwidth to connect up to two million people across more than 5,000 remote and rural communities. Orbits Corp is the sister company of HTechCorp, which has been delivering internet services across the Philippines for over 20 years.

Prerequisites:

• Identification of common needs with partners, identification of capabilities of different partners

• Business case development

• Spectrum policy & coordination with telecom regulator; ITU procedures where applicable

• Procurement pathway

• Partner support as needed

• Cybersecurity, data protection, and continuity planning

Cost:

Smaller Scale (Capacity Building / Partial GEO Services)

• Ballpark: USD 50M–250M

• Includes: outsourcing to integrators for partial GEO capabilities (e.g., hosted payloads, communications transponders, or shared satellite buses), procurement of ground segment equipment, limited launch services, staff training, and operational support contracts

Flagship GEO Satellite System (Full Capability)

• Ballpark: USD 250M–1B

• Includes: full end-to-end GEO satellite programme (bus, payload, ground segment, launch services, insurance, operations), long-term service agreements, workforce training, national mission operations centre

Timeframe:

Smaller Scale (Capacity Building / Partial GEO Services)

• Overall: 36–72 mo

• Phases: scoping/requirements definition (6–12 mo), design/procurement (12–18 mo), integration/testing (12–18 mo), launch/operations (6–24 mo)

Flagship GEO Satellite System (Full Capability)

• Overall: 60–120 mo

• Phases: scoping/financing & RFP (12–18 mo), design/procurement (18–24 mo), satellite integration/testing (24–36 mo), launch & in-orbit testing (6–12 mo), operations (ongoing, 10–15 year lifespan)

Pros:

• Rapid Technology Integration - Systems integrators eliminate the need to develop new technology or systems from scratch, enabling rapid technology integration.

• Proven Reliability - Established integrators reduce risk as the technology is already demonstrated and used.

• Cost-Effective Alternative - Partnerships lower cost compared to the complete procurement of a large GEO satellite.

• Nation-Specific Customization - Nations can tailors the architecture to meet their needs.

Considerations:

• Limited Knowledge Transfer - Procurement limits technology transfer and capacity building when procuring connectivity services, as some information may remain a black box.

• High Upfront Costs - Contracts may require high initial investment costs.