Telcos ordered to ensure reliable broadband connectivity amid Holy Week break

MANILA, Philippines — The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has ordered telecommunication companies to ensure that fast and reliable broadband connectivity would be available at all times during the Holy Week break.

In a memorandum dated April 4, NTC Commissioner Ella Lopez said fast and reliable internet broadband connectivity is “vital” to religious and Holy Week break travelers.

“Reliable and quality broadband connection with sufficient capacity shall be made available to ensure that user experience is maximized in places where the populace historically converges during the Holy Week break,” the memo read.

With this, the NTC ordered telcos to ensure that their services “with increased and sufficient network capacity” are available 24/7 in places of convergence such as religious places.

Telcos are also directed to deploy a sufficient number of technical services to attend to any disruption of service.

Disruption of service should also not exceed an accumulated period of one hour from April 6 to April 10, the NTC said.

The repair works should also be done and services restored immediately by strategically locating spare parts, replacement equipment, devices, and materials.

“Ensure that complaints are attended to properly and addressed swiftly by sufficiently manning their hotlines which receive complaints,” the memo ordered.

“Implement such other measures necessary to make the stay of religious travelers enjoyable and memorable,” it added.

Filipinos are set to have their five-day long weekend this Holy Week as Malacañang has declared April 6 (Maundy Thursday) and April 7 (Good Friday) as a regular holiday, as well as April 10 for the commemoration of “Araw ng Kagitingan.”

READ: Palace reminds public of 5-day break in April as nation observes Holy Week, Araw ng Kagitingan

je