Starlink-Powered PayFi Islands Brings Digital Inclusion to Apo Island and Dumaguete

Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has launched the second phase of its PayFi Islands initiative, expanding its reach to Negros Oriental through high-speed Starlink internet. This strategic deployment connects Apo Elementary School and the Arts and Design Collective Dumaguete (ADCD), two communities long hindered by unreliable infrastructure and limited connectivity.

Apo Island, known for its vibrant marine life and close-knit fishing community, has faced significant challenges in education due to a lack of internet access. Apo Elementary School, the island’s sole public school, has operated with minimal digital tools for years. With the arrival of Starlink connectivity, the school will now unlock access to remote learning platforms, educational resources, and professional development for teachers.

This transformation promises far-reaching benefits: students can participate in global learning exchanges, teachers can collaborate with educational networks, and the community at large gains a digital lifeline to broader economic opportunities.

Meanwhile in Dumaguete City, Bitget has partnered with ADCD, a creative incubator on the cusp of launching a digital maker’s space for local artists and entrepreneurs. Once constrained by slow, unreliable internet, ADCD is now poised to provide fabrication technologies, digital design tools, and global networking capabilities.

From virtual exhibitions to remote creative collaboration, the upgraded infrastructure will allow Dumaguete’s artists to access markets, build digital portfolios, and engage with the global creative economy, turning potential into real, thriving enterprises.

“Access to the internet is access to opportunities,” said Bitget COO Vugar Usi Zade. “With PayFi Islands, we’re connecting communities to education, to the digital economy, and to more chances at growth.”

This expansion follows Bitget’s successful deployment in Siargao earlier in 2025, where internet access reached the Espoir School of Life and Barangay Pitogo. Looking ahead, Bitget plans to integrate blockchain literacy and financial education through its Blockchain4Youth and Blockchain4Her initiatives, ensuring that the digital infrastructure not only exists but becomes a foundation for sustainable development.

Scheduled for full deployment by July 2025, the project includes satellite hardware installation, ongoing subscription support, and community-led digital training. These efforts underscore Bitget’s commitment to building an inclusive digital future where no one is left offline, especially those in remote or underserved communities.