Why Philippines has Slow Internet Speed?

 

The National Telecommunications  Commission or (NTC)  sets the minimum broadband speed of at least 256 kilobits per second. This is the standard of the International Telecomunication Union. Under the Memorandum Circular No. 08-07-15 signed last August 13.

The NTC said:

The subscribers/consumers/users shall properly informed of the broadband/ internet connection service being offered to them through, among others, flyers, brochures, advertisements, and etc.,

Also, the information shall always be updated.

Democracy.net.ph a  group that advocated the proposed Magna Carta for Philippine Internet  Freedom and participated in the public consultation on the circular. The group said that the Internet Service Providers cannot market any broadband service lower than 256kbps or they will face sanctions for violating truth of advertising.

According to the co-founder of the group Mr. Pierre Tito Galla there should be at least 80% of the time or 24 days in a month,  ISP must provide a speed above 256kbps or else face  administrative sanctions  at the minimum.

Under the latest circular, the ISPs must “specify average downstream or upstream data per area”  it can be regions, provinces, cities or municipalities.

Mr. Galla noted, there will be no longer marketing claims of nationwide coverage because there is a rule that lets the ISP specify areas’ coverage. ISP will be held administrative liable if there is a claim of nationwide coverage but fails to provide on some areas.

ISP may set the maximum data limits per plan but must inform the customers when the consumption hits 80%, 85%, 90% and 95%, and that normal rates apply after 100% consumption.

Slowest in the Asia:
Philippines has one of the slowest internet speeds in Southeast Asia. It is also the most expensive in terms of cost per mbps. Average cost per Mbps is around $18 compared to global average of $5.2. Philippines is dubbed as the social media capital but has the worst and expensive internet service. While NTC sets the minimum speed of 256kbps, that speed is too slow for watching videos on youtube even at low resolution. NTC should have set it in Mbps range to have more decent connection.

Red Tape
Telco giants Globe and PLDT said that bureaucratic red tape hampers infrastructure to improve data services in the country. In general, it takes around 6 months to put up a tower. This is due to the lengthy process of securing many permits and dues.  

NTC is pushing for a legislation that would identify broadband as a basic service so that the government could regulate it. Currently, the internet connection offered by Telco is identified as an “add on service” thus, government cannot regulate it.