PLDT firm pushes distance learning via satellite

By Erwin Lemuel Oliva, INQ7.net

MABUHAY Satellite Corp., a company owned by Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), will push more satellite services, starting with distance learning using satellite technology next year, an official told INQ7.net.

Quietly launched a month ago, Mabuhay Satellite's e-learning service is now being used by computer school AMA to broadcast lectures from Metro Manila to more than 100 campuses nationwide, said Ramon Fernando, director for sales and marketing of Mabuhay Satellite Corp.

AMA has been using the Internet to broadcast lectures to its students in other parts of the country. However, the Internet proved to be slow in transmitting video.

As providers of satellite services move from just selling "bandwidth" to selling services, Fernando said that Mabuhay Satellite would be providing more value-added services for different clients wanting to take advantage of distance learning via satellite.

He said that the cost of doing distance learning via satellite is still expensive. However, the price of the terminals used to receive broadcasts is going down.

Mabuhay Satellite said that it would partner with AMA computer school, which would provide the facilities, such as the receiving stations, that others can rent, he said.

Both Mabuhay Satellite Corp. and AMA are still negotiating how they intend to package this service.

The cost of using satellite services for one day ranges from 300,000 to 500,000 pesos, Fernando said. If schools or private organizations are able to get more people to use the service, the cost could go down, he added.

"We're working with AMA as a partner in the delivery of distance learning services," the executive said.

Mabuhay Satellite is also looking into to selling distance learning services via satellite to other markets, such as the pharmaceutical industry and government.

The company is also planning to offer Internet connections via satellite for remote areas in the country.

"Satellite technology is often misunderstood. People don't know that it can now be used for telephony and other services, apart from broadcasting," the executive said.

Mabuhay Satellite, which is partly-owned by a group of Chinese investors, has mostly telecommunications firms as clients. In the Asia Pacific region, its biggest client is Indonesia.