Internet Speed in the Philippines

Senator Imee Marcos proposed a law that would grant affordable internet access to low-income groups so they have access to remote working, learning, and conducting business online.

The Senate Economic Affairs committee chairwoman said that “If lifeline rates are being given to water and electricity consumers, why can’t we give similar discounts for internet access?”

As per the Senate Bill 2102 or the Public Telecommunications Policy Act of the Philippines, the socialized pricing mechanism is seen as a solution to the slow rollout of free WiFi access to poor locations since it can already be implemented by the government and telcos.

Marcos’s bill is prescribing a lifeline rate for data allocation based on the user’s consumption threshold of not less than 1GB per month.

Related

The senator said that “Low-income end-users need more than just the occasional mobile promo, with internet access becoming a necessity just like water and electricity. Work-from-home arrangements, online education, e-commerce, and internet banking are here to stay,”

As per the cybersecurity firm Surfshark, while the Philippines is at the 48th spot in 110 countries in terms of Digital Quality of Life Index 2021, it falls on the 72nd rank in terms of internet affordability.

Via: Manila Bulletin

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *