Globe extends Starlink service to Japan

MANILA, Philippines — Telco-to-tech giant Globe Telecom Inc. is maximizing its partnership with Starlink by activating direct-to-device connectivity abroad, firstly in Japan as a roaming support.

In an advisory, Globe said it has activated Starlink Mobile in Japan to extend roaming service to Filipino travelers. 

Globe tied up with local telco KDDI Corp. in launching the international access, giving Filipinos in Japan the option to connect to the internet. 

The service allows Filipinos to access select apps for messaging and navigation in areas in Japan where traditional coverage is limited. The service, called GoRoam Japan, comes with terrestrial roaming, giving subscribers mobile connectivity in covered areas and dead zones.

 Globe head of consumer mobile business Eric Tanbauco said the telco aims to be at the forefront of connectivity innovation, such as direct-to-device service.

 Tanbauco underscored Globe’s objective in these endeavors, to eliminate dead spots.

“Through our partnership with KDDI, we are exploring how satellite-enabled connectivity could help overcome network boundaries and create a more seamless travel experience for customers,” Tanbauco said.

 With the arrival of direct-to-device connectivity, KDDI executive officer Makoto Kadowaki said the next battleground for telcos is how far and wide their satellites could reach consumers.

 “Our goal is to eliminate global cellular dead zones and deliver reliable connectivity, aiming for a world where if you see the sky, you can connect anywhere,” he added.

 Starlink Mobile, activated by Globe in the Philippines in June, is designed to connect phones to the internet in areas where cellular sites are limited.

 Globe is the first in Southeast Asia, and only second in Asia, to offer the service.

 In the Philippines, Globe activated Starlink Mobile to achieve nationwide coverage. Prior to the launch of the service, the telco has found it challenging to reach the remaining four percent of the population living in far-flung areas.

Right now, compatibility varies by manufacturer and model, but it is required that the phone has LTE capability to link to a satellite.

GoRoam Japan starts at P400 for seven days, offering 2 gigabyte all-access data, 1 GB satellite data, including 50 satellite texts to all networks.