Assessing the Promise of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites in Accelerating Rural Connectivity and Closing the Digital Divide

Events

Assessing the Promise of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites in Accelerating Rural Connectivity and Closing the Digital Divide

17 March 2022

High-level policymakers and experts discussed and explored the exciting potential of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in expanding broadband access, encouraging investment in new broadband technologies, and bringing more users online, especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas in the Philippines.

Organized by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Better Access and Connectivity (BEACON), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the webinar was the first of a two-part series and featured invited speakers from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Philippine Space Agency, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the ADB. 

Selected use cases were shared by companies that are operating or building LEO satellite constellations such as Amazon’s Project Kuiper, AST SpaceMobile, OneWeb, and SpaceX.

Visual Summary for Part 1, 17 March 2022: 

Program and Learning Materials: 
Date Session / Activity Presentation Material Speaker(s)
17 Mar 2022 Webinar Recording Video: First of Two-Part Online Forum
17 Mar 2022 Opening Acknowledgements Tricia Zafra, Chief, Public Relations and Information Division, Philippine Space Agency

Maria Victoria Gazmin, Officer-in-Charge, Space Business Development Division, Space Industry and Strategic Business Development Bureau, Philippine Space Agency
17 Mar 2022 Opening Webinar Introduction John Garrity, Chief of Party, USAID’s BEACON Activity
17 Mar 2022 Opening Remarks Heather Variava, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy in the Philippines
17 Mar 2022 Presentation Introducing Non-Geostationary Satellite Constellations Test Deployments to Improve Internet Services
This presentation gives an overview of how the Philippines Space Agency isbridging the digital divide and building the local space industrythrough internet...
Joel Joseph Marciano, Jr.
17 Mar 2022 Presentation Expanding the Provision of Internet Services through Inclusive Access to Satellite Services Emmanuel Rey Caintic, Acting Secretary, Department of Information and Communications Technology
17 Mar 2022 Presentation Digital Connectivity and Low Earth Orbit Constellations
This presentation gives a brief introduction to the benefits and challenges of low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations in light of addressing connectivity...
Arndt Husar
17 Mar 2022 Panel Discussion Prominent LEO Satellite Constellations: Tech, Commercial Approaches and Market Entry Challenges Moderator: John Garrity, USAID BEACON

Fariba Malouf, Corporate Counsel Amazon’s Project Kuiper

Bala Balamurali Director, Southeast Asia and Pacific Region OneWeb
17 Mar 2022 Panel Discussion Jonathan Hofeller, Vice President, Starlink Commercial Sales SpaceX

Chris Ivory, Chief Commercial Officer, AST SpaceMobile
17 Mar 2022 Presentation Satellite Broadband and Financial Inclusion
This presentation gives an overview of how satellite broadband can help in accelerating financial inclusion and digital finance.
Ellen Joyce Suficiencia
17 Mar 2022 Presentation Increasing the Use of e-Commerce in Various Segments of Rural Economies George Barcelon, President, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry
17 Mar 2022 Closing Synthesis John Garrity, Chief of Party, USAID’s BEACON Activity
17 Mar 2022 Closing Closing Remarks Thomas Abell, Chief, Digital Technology for Development, ADB

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