Is Internet Service In Phiillppines Getting Better 2019

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) presented to the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives its plans on farther improving telecommunications and cyberspace connectivity in the Philippines, particularly the plan for a government-endemic national fiber optic network through the National Broadband Program (NBP). This comes later on credible improvements in boilerplate net speeds in the country, according to recent surveys.

Based on the recent Ookla Global Alphabetize, the Philippines has significantly improved in Internet speed, marker a 216.94 percent increase in fixed broadband speed and a 127.82 percent increment in mobile net speed from July 2016 to July 2020. According to the information, the state now registers an average of 25.07Mbps and 16.95Mbps for fixed broadband and mobile internet, respectively.

Based on online tech reviews, the average internet speed suggested for video conferencing is around 1 to 4 Mbps, while standard definition and loftier-definition video streaming are around three to 4 Mbps and 5 to 8 Mbps, respectively. Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) requires only xc to 156 kbps.

"While our mobile cyberspace speed has multiplied in recent years, we can nonetheless do more than by improving our fiber optic cablesand cell belfry infrastructure," ICT Secretarial assistant Gregorio B. Honasan Ii explained in a divide statement. "For practical purposes, one tin already surf the internet, use Facebook and YouTube, and make video calls with our electric current internet speed. From time to time, I utilize my smart phone to check mobile net speeds in the areas I go to. Ginagawa din yan ng ibang tao. May ibang lugar more or less nasa three Mbps, may ibang lugar naman more than or less 7 Mbps. Kahit sino pwede sumubok nito. Of grade, nosotros need to aim higher and the country can definitely do better. No excuses; we take total responsibility for the current situation that our telecommunications and Net connectivity are in."

Honasan said that the DICT acknowledges the average net speed improvements in the country in the past iv years, based on available data. However, he said that the Philippines' biggest problem apropos digitalization remains the lack of ICT infrastructure, resulting in poor coverage across the country, leaving many with weak to no connectedness signal. Thus, Honasan emphasized the need for funding and support for the NBP.

"Nosotros should not exit the fate of our national ICT infrastructure to the private sector only. It is loftier time for a government-endemic network that's built fifty-fifty in remote communities, not based on their market viability, but with a mission to provide equal opportunity for all. We owe information technology to our people. We owe it to our children," Honasan said.

The proposed a upkeep of around P18 billion is fix to cover the Philippines by 2022 nether the Program's Phase two. DICT Assistant Secretary Emmanuel Rey Caintic explained that the proposed budget will speed upwards the lighting upwards of fiber optic cables of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and the National Manual Corporation (TransCo) across the state. He added that the DICT can simultaneously install active components for fiber optic cables in various provinces and evangelize expected results in 6 to 9 months given the requested funding. Role of the P18 billion volition exist spent on microwave radio towers which will be deployed in areas with no fiber optic cables.

According to Caintic, Phase 1 of the NBP will exist completed in early 2021. Using the 2019-2020 budget, the DICT is prepare to actuate and connect the Cable Landing Station in Baler, Aurora to the NGCP node in San Fernando, La Union through the Luzon Bypass Infrastructure. Four DICT nodes and fifteen NGCP nodes volition also be activated.

"Maliit yung NBP Phase 1 in terms of geography, pero ang kagandahan, abot mula Baler hanggang La Union, paikot ng Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Trinidad, Baguio, Region 2 and 3, hanggang NCR," he explained.

The DICT is currently in talks with eight provinces regarding the institution of provincial broadband networks that volition be linked to the fiber optic cables from the National Broadband Phase 1 implementation.

In perspective, neighboring countries with similar initiatives, such equally Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand, have allotted significantly higher budgets for their National Broadband Network. Indonesia is reported to have allocated over US$22 billion (P1.07 trillion) for its 5-twelvemonth national broadband plan, while Commonwealth of australia and New Zealand have allocated around US$37 billion (P1.79 trillion), and Us$1.19 billion (P58 billion pesos), respectively. Other countries, such as Singapore, are improving their systems past spending effectually U.s.a.$550 million (P26.72 billion) and opening up their network to all service providers. While the approved budget for NBP Phase two is effectually P902 meg, approximately P17 billion more than is required to build a fiber optic network that would comprehend the entire land.

The NBP is function of DICT's Connect-Connect-Connect initiative, which aims to ameliorate telecommunications and internet services in the country.