Remote islands in the Philippines have suffered from digital inequality for a long time, often facing outages, slow speeds and an overall exclusion from the digital economy. To tackle these problems and more, Bitget, the cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has launched its Starlink Programme in the region.
For years, residents on Filipino islands like Siargao have struggled with a lack of digital services. Schools like the island’s Espoir School of Life, which serves underprivileged children, struggle with offline-only learning, while villages like Barangay Pitogo face isolation due to unreliable communication networks. To ensure these struggles come to an end, Bitget is introducing its Starlink Programme to the island which will bring them high-speed satellite internet.
Kicking off in Espoir and Barangay Pitogo, the initiative addresses chronic connectivity gaps that have long hindered education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Ultimately, Bitget aims to empower these communities with reliable internet access and remove their reliance on fragile microwave radio connections.
Introducing Starlink
The programme’s first phase includes a Starlink hardware installation 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.
With this, Bitget plans to provide long-term support through $10million ‘Blockchain 4 Youth‘ and $10million ‘Blockchain 4 Her’ initiatives, which will introduce blockchain literacy and digital finance skills to students and women-led cooperatives. The total investment of 155,400 Philippine pesos covers hardware, subscriptions, and logistics.
“Without a 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.
Crypto’s future is about people, not just markets
Bitget’s initiative shows a growing recognition in the crypto industry: Adoption starts with access. By addressing infrastructure barriers first, the exchange is creating a replicable model for other underserved regions. Future phases could expand to neighbouring islands, leveraging partnerships with local NGOs and government units.
The Starlink kits will go live in May, with Bitget documenting the rollout through impact reports and community stories. For Espoir’s students, the change will be immediate: interactive lessons, global collaborations, and soon blockchain workshops. For Barangay Pitogo, it’s a leap toward resilient communication during typhoon seasons.
