Only in the near past, Division of Info and Communications Expertise (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda introduced that President Marcos’ dedication to make sure web connectivity for all public colleges by the tip of 2025 is nearing its objective, with the speed now at 78 p.c.
Aguda additionally stated that the federal government is resolute in bettering web connectivity via the enlargement of the Nationwide Fiber Spine (NFB) mission. To this point, the mission’s Section 1 has been accomplished and covers greater than 1,200 kilometers in space, from Laoag in Ilocos Norte to Quezon Metropolis. Phases 2 and three have additionally been launched, geared toward setting up fiber optic web cable to about 1,800 km space from Cagayan de Oro to Mindanao.
With the continued enlargement of the nation’s digital infrastructure, the President has additionally assured that web entry will attain all areas of the Philippines by the tip of the yr.
Lastly, web connectivity, which was seen as a comfort, has taken heart stage and has develop into a core pillar of the federal government’s financial agenda.
Again in 2015 when it was established, no one actually paid a lot consideration to the DICT, not even our authorities leaders, till the pandemic struck and web connectivity turned a necessary service and a part of our lifestyle.
Improved web connectivity has now been acknowledged as a key to attaining our financial objectives.
Aguda’s imaginative and prescient is concentrated on driving a digital-first financial system, fostering inclusive know-how for all, championing knowledge privateness and safety and selling transparency in governance. Central to the belief of those objectives is his name for “digital bayanihan,” a collaborative effort between the DICT and varied stakeholders to make sure that no Filipino is left behind within the nation’s digital revolution.
Aguda, along with his huge expertise within the area, is the most effective individual to steer the nation to a digital future.
He served as presidential advisor on digital infrastructure within the Personal Sector Advisory Council to the President and was president and CEO of UnionDigital Financial institution. He was additionally the chairman of UBX Philippines Corp., chairman of Metropolis Financial savings Financial institution, chief know-how and operations officer of UnionBank, chief info officer of Globe Telecom, chief know-how officer of GSIS and group chief info officer of Digitel, amongst others.
In line with one report, his Digital Bayanihan imaginative and prescient includes the creation of a rustic that connects the farthest barangays, powers the expansion of homegrown tech startups and creates hundreds of thousands of digital jobs for a workforce wanting to compete within the world enviornment.
Throughout his first 100 days in workplace, the DICT already activated 18,849 Free Wi-Fi websites, with 6,183 of them in geographically remoted and deprived areas. It additionally rolled out 3,026 kilometers of fiber below Phases 2 and three of the Nationwide Broadband Program and celebrated the passage of the E-Governance Act and the Konektadong Pinoy Act.
The DICT is implementing the NBP which focuses on deploying fiber broadband networks and wi-fi know-how to enhance web velocity and affordability and as a part of this system, the federal government has launched the Nationwide Fiber Spine mission to strengthen connectivity.
In 2024, the President accepted the $288-million Philippine Digital Infrastructure Mission to finish the nation’s nationwide fiber spine and increase high-speed web entry to underserved areas.
Aguda additionally goals to generate eight million digital jobs by 2028 via what he calls “Trabahong Digital Program.”
DICT targets to shut the yr with no less than 30,000 Free Wi-Fi websites nationwide, virtually double the 19,000 websites as of July. Subsequent yr, the purpose is to surpass the preliminary objective of deploying 50,000 Free Wi-Fi websites, gunning for as a lot as 70,000 websites.
Additionally within the pipeline are coverage reforms within the telecommunications trade. Aguda stated that there must be transparency inside the trade, explaining that there’s a have to have minimal velocity requirements and even value regulation.
Aguda additionally desires to require each authorities company and native governments to undertake digital companies through the eGov SuperApp, which now homes a number of authorities companies.
Moreover, he desires to allow as much as $9 billion in hyperscaler investments and safe digital methods via a nationwide cybersecurity certification program.
However for the peculiar Pinoy, the issue continues to be the velocity and price of web connectivity.
A report by the DICT final March confirmed that in 2024, whereas the Philippines’ cell obtain velocity is rising, different ASEAN international locations present a a lot larger obtain web velocity.
Utilizing the Speedtest World Index of Ookla, Singapore recorded a cell obtain velocity of 88.91 Mbps in January which elevated to 129.13 Mbps in December whereas Malaysia additionally confirmed an enormous enchancment from 77.69 Mbps in January to 105.36 Mbps in December. The Philippines, in the meantime, recorded a velocity of 28 Mbps in January, bettering to solely 36.36 Mbps in December, rating sixth for the month of December. Globally, the nation ranked 77th amongst 103 international locations.
When it comes to cell add, DICT reported that the Philippines recorded a gentle velocity of round seven Mbps all all through final yr, putting it on the lowest place amongst ASEAN member states apart from October.
When it comes to fastened broadband obtain, Singapore confirmed the very best velocity at 330 Mbps in December 2024, adopted by Thailand with 235.86 Mbps, Vietnam with 159.32 Mbps, Malaysia with 118.63 Mbps and the Philippines at 93.76 Mbps. For fastened broadband add, the Philippines positioned fourth in December at 94.04 Mbps whereas Singapore nonetheless had the very best at 271.64 Mbps adopted by Thailand with 204.72 Mbps and Vietnam with 132.92 Mbps.
DICT added that the Philippines’ world cell broadband rating fell from 62 out of 103 international locations in January to 63rd out of 102 international locations in March. In distinction, the nation’s fastened broadband rating climbed from 58th in January to 53rd in March.
Ookla in July final yr stated that fastened broadband speeds within the Philippines are steadily bettering however the distribution of fastened community infrastructure throughout the nation is uneven. Within the second quarter of 2024, Luzon had the areas with the highest 5 quickest fastened efficiency within the nation, all reporting obtain and add speeds surpassing 90 Mbps whereas the Jap Visayas Area had the bottom median obtain velocity of 38.43 Mbps.
It famous that the Philippines’ geographical format is difficult for fiber deployment, including {that a} nearer private-public partnership is crucial to fulfill the rising demand for higher fastened broadband and slender the hole with neighboring international locations.
A World Financial institution 2024 report in the meantime identified that the nation’s web connectivity lags in affordability, velocity and entry, thereby curbing digital potential for residents and companies and is a misplaced development alternative for Filipinos.
It famous that the penetration of fastened broadband entry within the Philippines is 33 p.c in comparison with Singapore’s 111 p.c, Brunei’s 108 p.c, Vietnam’s 76 p.c, Thailand’s 58 p.c and Malaysia’s 50 p.c.
The value of fastened broadband within the Philippines is among the many highest within the area at 11.3 p.c of the gross nationwide earnings per capita, with solely two international locations having extra pricey broadband specifically Cambodia at 11.5 p.c and Myanmar at 15.3 p.c of GNI per capita.
The report additionally revealed that cell broadband figures reported comparable rankings, with the Philippines having the slowest cell obtain velocity and costing greater than many international locations in Southeast Asia.
As of February 2025, the Philippines ranked sixty fifth globally for cell web speeds and 58th for fastened broadband, in accordance with Ookla.
The journey could also be lengthy and arduous however we will take consolation in understanding that we have now a DICT that lastly is aware of what it’s doing and a authorities that has put the difficulty of web connectivity on the forefront.
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