NEW TABLETS. Learners of the Paoay East Elementary School in Paoay, Ilocos Norte receive tablets on Oct. 28, 2023, courtesy of Senator Loren Legarda. The school has been assured of faster Internet connectivity with the installation of Starlink, a satellite Internet constellation operated by American aerospace company SpaceX. (Photo by Alaric Yanos)
LAOAG CITY – Teachers and learners of the Paoay East Central Elementary School (PECES) are upbeat about a new Internet broadband system that would boost their digital connectivity.
Roberto Cachero, head of PECES, confirmed this in an interview Thursday as he shared information on the upcoming installation of Starlink Internet, a satellite Internet constellation operated by the American aerospace company SpaceX.
Starlink is owned by international business magnate Elon Musk.
Cachero said the installation of a faster Internet connection was made possible through the intervention of Senator Loren Legarda.
“We are glad and thankful to Senator Loren Legarda for spearheading the installation of Starlink Internet in our school to bridge the connectivity gap. This would allow more of our teachers to participate in online meetings and seminars and in improving educational opportunities for our learners,” he said.
On Oct. 28, Legarda’s team visited Paoay town to distribute 90 tablets to selected learners of the PECES and the Sideg Elementary School in Paoay town where her Nanay Fely, the senator’s nanny since birth, came from.
According to Cachero, they had been experiencing slow Internet speed that limits their ability to stream videos or support multiple devices that aid their teaching and the learning of the students.
To maximize the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) gadgets of the school, Legarda immediately offered the installation of a cutting-edge technology provider that offers fast and accessible Internet connectivity to reach out to remote areas.
“I am committed to ensuring that every Filipino student has access to quality education, regardless of location. The installation of Starlink Internet is a significant step towards bridging the digital divide and empowering our students,” Legarda said in a statement.
On May 5, the Mariano Marcos State University - Currimao Campus and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) 1 (Ilocos) partnered with Elon Musk’s SpaceX company for the pioneering installation of a high-speed Starlink Internet in the college.
Starlink offers a bandwidth of 350 megabytes per second, which enables users to upload and download files, stream videos, and participate in online classes more smoothly.
It also provides low latency, which is helpful during video conferencing and other real-time applications.
Currently, the DICT and SpaceX are deploying Starlink to boost the Internet connectivity of schools. (PNA)
