Imagine this: It’s 11:56 PM and you’ve just finished typing up a major paper for one of your core classes. Your professor told you in class that your requirement must be submitted via email by 11:59 PM or else you will get a zero for that component of your grade. You rush to open your web browser only to find out that a) your Internet connection is extremely slow or b) you don’t have an Internet connection at all.
It may seem like the stuff of nightmares but sadly, it is very much a reality in the Philippines.
Despite being called the “Social Capital of the World,” our country has one of the slowest Internet connections in Asia and maybe even the world. According to a study conducted by Ookla last 2014, as compared to Singapore’s 69.69 megabits per second (Mbps) average Internet speed, the Philippines boasts a measly 3.4 Mbps.
We are actually also paying more for our Internet connection than our neighboring countries. On average, a Filipino pays $18 or Php 840 for his Internet connection. Meanwhile, the global average is about $6 or Php 250, with most of these already being high-speed connections. It is possible to get a high-speed connection in the Philippines though. PLDT, for example, offers a 200 Mbps connection, but at the cost of Php 20,000 a month.
Many have blamed the Philippines’ geography for our slow Internet connections. They say that it’s impossible to build and maintain infrastructure because of the country’s 7,000 islands. There is also the lack of competition when it comes to telecommunication companies, as there are only a few and most of them have more or less the same pricing for connections.
There have been attempts to solve these issues, however. In 2014, Senator Bam Aquino called for a probe on how to improve Internet speeds and pricing in the country. Meanwhile, in August of this year, the National Telecommunications Commission set a minimum Internet speed for telecommunication companies providing Internet services.
While there are steps being taken, it is sad to say that these are not enough. Even though it seems that the problem of Internet speed may not be on our government’s high list of priorities, it should be.
In order to remain globally competitive, the Philippines needs faster Internet. A few megabits can make a difference between securing a multinational deal and losing it to another company. Local businesses are also starting up online, with Filipinos starting up businesses on Facebook and Instagram.
And it’s not just about businesses and entrepreneurship. The Internet has also become a great resource for education, with the latest scientific findings being uploaded through online journal articles and with YouTube tutorials that teach students anything from algebra to zoology. And for the millions of Overseas Filipino Workers, the Internet has become a place for them to contact their loved ones. For many, the Internet has become more just funny videos and photos of cute animals—it has become an important part of their lives.
Some countries in the world have declared the access to Internet as a human right. It’s high time we do the same. Fast Internet should not be a privilege only for those who can afford it, but a right for all Filipinos.
