You finally convinced your old-fashioned boss that you could work remotely, packed your laptop, and ready to move to Siargao to live the digital nomad dream. The only thing left now is to find a place with good internet. How difficult could that be?
FAQ
Starlink is available in Siargao which makes the Internet situation great for remote workers.
The internet is based on antennas (SIM cards) and Starlink satellite internet.
Buy both Smart and Globe SIM cards (40 PHP each), and it’s easy to load using their app through an E-Wallet or in local stores. Plan your work days in places that offer Starlink and a power backup.
Both Globe and Smart are working in Siargao; Smart is a bit better, mostly in the Catangan area. You can buy SIM cards in General Luna in many different stores.
How the internet in Siargao works?
There are two main sources for the internet in Siargao:
1. Antennas (Mobile SIM Cards)
Antennas are the primary source of the internet in Siargao. Don’t mistake the “Wi-Fi connection” in different venues for being different from the connection you get on your phone. Both connections come from the same source as long as there is no wired connection on the island.
The main problems of this connection, which is based on microwave radio, are:
- Weather affects signal strength
- Limited bandwidth
However, the situation is getting better as more towers are slowly built, and you can sometimes get decent speeds with a simple SIM card connection.
2. Starlink
Starlink, part of Space X, founded by Elon Musk, provides excellent satellite internet. Starlink is now officially available in the Philippines, providing great internet (150-400mbps) with low latency.
How to prepare before coming to Siargao?
SIM Cards
There are two main internet providers, and each one of them has its own antennas and setup. Those are “Smart” and “Globe”. It’s highly recommended to buy both SIM cards (40 PHP each), so you can check at every spot which one is working better.
Both offer prepaid plans, and it’s easy to load using their app or an E-Wallet (Gcash/Maya).
Recommended spots
The key to having a safe and calm work day is looking for a place that offers Starlink connection and a power backup to run it, in case of a brownout (that happens every now and then).
At Coco Space, we offer Both Starlink and LTE internet, backed up by solar power system and a generator.
Wrapping up
While Siargao used to have a reputation as a place that doesn’t fit remote workers, the last infrastructure improvements have changed the game. Don’t just take our word for it, use the growing digital nomad’s community on the island as a proof.
See you soon!
