In the Know: Internet in PH

The Philippines consistently lagged behind in internet connection and speed in several studies on interconnectivity.

In April, the Philippines ranked 121st out of 139 countries in mobile internet speed and placed 110 out of 174 countries in fixed broadband speed, according to the Speed Test Global Index.

A separate 2017 report of Akamai, an internet service and security provider firm, showed that the Philippines had the slowest average connection speed of just 4.5 Mbps (megabits per second), followed by India with 5.6 Mbps.

There are some 57 million internet users, 3.9 million broadband subscribers, 134.6 million mobile phone subscribers and 4.1 million landline subscribers in the country in 2018, according to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

This is expected to jump as the coronavirus pandemic has forced Filipinos to go online for work and school since quarantine restrictions were implemented in March.

For its part, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has vowed to improve internet service and increase its access after the quarantine. Last March, it launched Wi-Fi spots in remote and disadvantaged areas in Albay, Isabela, Palawan, Lanao del Sur, and Davao City. By the end of 2020, it aims to establish 10,000 free Wi-Fi sites nationwide.

In 2015, the DICT also rolled out the Pipol Konek, then known as Juan Konek. The free Wi-Fi project aims to provide internet access to public places, such as schools, airports, public hospitals and parks as well as other state facilities in remote areas. The project aims to hit 200,000 sites by 2022.

Sources: Inquirer Archives, cia.gov