INCENTIVISE: testing whether satellite internet works for users

PhilSA began INCENTIVISE in 2020 to examine emerging satellite internet technologies in the Philippines. An open call in 2021 invited operators to demonstrate services for uses such as education, remote work and disaster response. The project tests connectivity supplied by operators; it is not a claim that PhilSA built or owns the satellite networks taking part.

This distinction changes the evaluation question. A satellite manufacturer may ask whether a spacecraft subsystem performs correctly. A school using a trial terminal asks whether teachers and students can complete their tasks reliably. Both questions matter, but they concern different parts of the service. The user’s experience includes the terminal, local network, power supply, provider network and the application being used.

A fair trial measures several things. Throughput — open definition describes how much data moves over time; latency — open definition describes delay; availability describes whether the service can be used when needed. A fast download at one moment cannot establish all three. PhilSA’s project included a weather and performance monitoring partnership with DOST-ASTI, connecting environmental context with service measurements.

Consider a fictional school comparing two demonstration periods. In one, a single laptop downloads a file on a clear morning. In the other, many students join video calls during poor weather. The results cannot be attributed to the provider alone because the conditions differ. A better comparison records load, equipment, weather, test method and time, then repeats appropriate measurements rather than selecting one impressive result.

Test the task, not just one speed

A delayed file transfer may still be useful, while a conversation is more sensitive to delay and interruption. A trial should therefore include tasks that represent the intended users, not just an abstract benchmark. Reports should describe outages and failed tests as well as successful connections. Otherwise, an average can conceal the periods when the service was unavailable.

Satellite connectivity also needs a working installation and a sustainable operating arrangement. Power, equipment support and the path from the terminal to the user remain part of the problem. Demonstrating a successful link is progress; it does not by itself show that every remote community is connected or that future service is guaranteed. INCENTIVISE illustrates a practical way to turn a promising space technology into a testable claim about how people can use it.