A Philippine lawmaker is calling on the government to set a firm deadline for telcos to improve internet speeds in the country.
To recall, Makati City Representative Luis Campos Jr. refiled a bill in May that would penalize telcos for failing to meet internet speed targets.
This comes after the country’s mobile internet speed dipped to an average of 32.12 Mbps in Ookla’s May 2024 Global Speedtest Index. This drop resulted in the Philippines falling four spots to No. 83 worldwide.
However, the Philippines did maintain its position as the sixth-fastest internet provider within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand boast faster average mobile internet speeds.
Campos has been a vocal advocate for House Bill No. 10215, which aims to reclassify high-speed internet as a basic telecommunication service. This would grant Filipinos a right of access, rather than treating it as a value-added service.
The reclassification would also empower the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to set and enforce rising minimum internet speed targets for telcos. Companies failing to meet these benchmarks within designated timeframes would face hefty fines of up to PHP 1 million daily, amounting to a maximum penalty of PHP 365 million annually, until compliance is achieved.
Previously, in April 2024, the Philippines ranked No. 79 with a slightly higher average mobile internet speed of 32.37 Mbps.
Source: PNA
