Internet Access for Remote Communities in Aurora

Dingalan is a small town in the province of Aurora, located on the eastern coast of Luzon in the Philippines. Surrounded by mountains and often affected by typhoons and landslides, many of its villages have little or no mobile coverage. For residents, students, and barangay officials, this lack of connectivity has made communication and coordination difficult—especially during disasters.

Through the Philippine Space Agency’s Project INCENTIVISE, in partnership with Help.NGO, USAID BEACON, and the Municipality of Dingalan, a LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite terminal was installed at the Barangay Hall of Dikapanikian. The initiative demonstrates how satellite connectivity can bring stable internet access to remote areas with limited or no telecom infrastructure.

The project was conducted under the leadership of Dr. Joel Joseph Sacro Marciano Jr., Ph.D., Director General of the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), and in collaboration with PhilSA engineers and project officers including Engr. Anabelle Franes, Fernando De Villa III, Maria Victoria Gazmin, and Sheila Samoza. Help.NGO’s field team—Nicole Fernando and Ian Tianchon—joined the deployment, supporting installation, testing, and local engagement in coordination with the municipal government and barangay officials.

Help.NGO representatives meeting with officials from the Municipality of Dingalan, Aurora.

Before the installation, Barangay Dikapanikian—a community of around 700 residents—had no reliable internet access and only intermittent mobile coverage. The terminal now provides open public Wi-Fi, serving roughly 150 users every day, including students, teachers, and barangay officials.

Connectivity has proven especially critical during typhoons and heavy rainfall. When cellular networks go down, the Starlink terminal remains the only functioning communication link between the barangay and the Municipal Government of Dingalan, located about an hour away. This has allowed local officials to send updates, request assistance, and coordinate response operations in real time, strengthening disaster preparedness and local resilience.

Beyond its use in emergencies, the connection has also improved daily life. Students can complete school assignments online, teachers can access learning materials, and residents can stay in touch with family members or process essential documents digitally. For many, this was their first experience with a stable, high-speed connection and the opportunities it brings.

Even simple tasks—like printing documents, which became possible again when the barangay’s printer could only connect wirelessly—have shown how reliable connectivity can make small but meaningful differences in daily operations. The old barangay hall, once rarely used, has become an informal community hub where families gather to access the internet, learn, and stay informed.

The Project INCENTIVISE deployment in Dingalan stands as an example of how LEO satellite connectivity can bridge access gaps in remote and hazard-prone areas. By combining advanced technology, local partnership, and field collaboration, it supports the shared mission of PhilSA, USAID BEACON, Help.NGO, and AWS to strengthen resilience and connectivity across the Philippines.

Acknowledgements

This project was made possible through the work and dedication of the Help.NGO field team:

• Nicole Fernando, Cloud Advocate and Engagement Engineer

• Ian Tianchon, Cloud Engineer

• Matt Cua, Innovation Director