KDDI Expands Starlink Direct Satellite Access to the Philippines and New Zealand
In this article (2)
Japanese carrier KDDI and Okinawa Cellular expanded their au Starlink Direct satellite service on August 31 to cover the Philippines and New Zealand.
The cross-border rollout adds two Asia-Pacific destinations to an international coverage footprint that previously included only the United States and Canada.
Direct satellite links for travellers
Subscribers to KDDI’s satellite service in Japan can now access low-Earth orbit connectivity in remote areas across both partner markets without paying extra fees or filing advance applications. The service links directly with Starlink Mobile technology when users have a clear view of the sky, enabling text messaging, location sharing, and supported light data applications in regions where terrestrial cellular networks do not reach.
Local carriers Globe Telecom in Manila and Spark in Auckland are serving as the operational partners for the rollout. Philippine coverage targets remote island corridors and dive destinations such as El Nido on Palawan Island, while New Zealand access focuses on national parks and backcountry wilderness areas.
“By enabling access to Starlink Mobile’s satellite-powered text and light data services when overseas, we’re helping travelers stay connected in places where traditional mobile coverage isn’t available,” Spark Chief Customer Officer Mark Beder said.
Regional race for direct-to-cell coverage
Mobile operators across the Asia-Pacific region are increasingly turning to low-Earth orbit satellite constellations to eliminate dead zones across archipelagos and rugged terrain without building expensive land towers. By routing signals directly between standard consumer smartphones and satellites in orbit, carriers can maintain emergency contact channels for inbound tourists and rural communities without requiring dedicated satellite handsets.
Globe and Spark are working to expand two-way satellite roaming for their own domestic customers as Starlink prepares broader direct-to-cell capabilities across the wider region.