Bitget Launches Starlink Program to Bridge Digital Divide in Philippine Island Communities
Bitget Launches Starlink Program to Bridge Digital Divide in Philippine Island Communities
Bitget, a leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has taken a significant step toward addressing digital inequality in the Philippines with the launch of its Starlink Program. This initiative brings high-speed satellite internet to remote island communities, starting with Siargao’s Espoir School of Life and Barangay Pitogo. By leveraging Starlink’s advanced technology, Bitget aims to close chronic connectivity gaps that have hindered education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for years.
Addressing Connectivity Challenges
For years, residents of Siargao have relied on fragile microwave radio connections, leaving them vulnerable to frequent outages, slow speeds, and exclusion from the digital economy. Schools like Espoir, which serves underprivileged children, have been limited to offline-only learning, while villages like Barangay Pitogo face isolation due to unreliable communication networks. The Starlink Program seeks to change this by providing reliable, high-speed internet access to these underserved areas.
“Without stable internet, entire communities are locked out of modern education, remote work, and even basic services like telemedicine. This isn’t just about connectivity, it’s about equity. Internet access shouldn’t be a privilege, it’s the foundation for everything from education to decentralized finance. We’re building doors to the digital world one island at a time,” said Vugar Usi Zade, COO at Bitget.
Phase One: Empowering Education and Governance
The first phase of the program includes the installation of Starlink hardware at Espoir School and Barangay Pitogo’s public school. This will provide six months of high-speed satellite internet, enabling access to online curricula, teacher training, and e-governance tools. For Espoir’s students, this means immediate access to interactive lessons and global collaborations, with plans for blockchain workshops in the near future. For Barangay Pitogo, the initiative offers resilient communication, especially critical during typhoon seasons.
Bitget team donates Starlink hardware to Espoir School of Life in Siargao.
A Model for the Future
Bitget’s initiative highlights a key insight in the crypto industry: adoption starts with access. By addressing infrastructure barriers first, the company is creating a replicable model for other underserved regions. Future phases of the program may expand to neighboring islands, with partnerships planned with local NGOs and government units. Bitget will document the rollout through impact reports and community stories, showcasing the transformative power of connectivity.
The total investment of 155,400 Philippine pesos covers hardware, subscriptions, and logistics—a modest cost for a transformative impact. Additionally, Bitget plans to provide long-term support through its $10M Blockchain4Youth and $10M Blockchain4Her initiatives, which will introduce blockchain literacy and digital finance skills to students and women-led cooperatives.
A Vision Beyond Markets
As Bitget scales the Starlink Program, its message is clear: the future of cryptocurrency is not just about markets but about empowering people. By providing the foundation of internet access, Bitget is opening doors to education, economic opportunities, and decentralized finance for communities previously left behind. Sometimes, changing lives starts with something as simple as an internet signal.
