A consumer network warned that the proposed “Konektadong Pinoy” bill could worsen the digital divide in the country, noting that the bill does not have measures that would mandate new players in the telecommunications space to invest in far-flung areas.
CitizenWatch Philippines said in a statement on Facebook that geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) should be given priority, which the bill failed to address.
“Rural and remote communities could be left further behind as new players focus on more profitable urban markets, where returns on investment are quicker and more substantial,” CitizenWatch convenor Orlando Oxales said.
Relaxing restrictions could also be economically detrimental to the country’s telecom industry, as new entrants might force all players to implement competitive pricing and focus their resources more on urban areas, he said.
“New entrants might resort to aggressive pricing strategies to gain market share, which could force all players to cut costs and reduce investments in critical infrastructure, thus leading to slower expansion, especially in GIDAs areas where broadband services are most needed,” Oxales said.
The latest data from the DataReportal-Global Digital Insights showed that only 73.6 percent of Filipinos are connected to the internet across the Philippines.
According to the Statista Research Department, an international research company, 98 percent of the Filipino population would have access to an internet connection in its current phase on by 2028.
The average broadband internet speed in the Philippines is ranked 41st in the world, according to the Telecom Review. Prof. Dindo Manhit, president of the international research tank Stratbase, said this is “a serious obstacle that must be hurdled,” emphasizing the need of internet connectivity for inclusion and social progress.
The World Bank said that policymakers in the Philippines should focus on reforms and invest more budget to improve the Philippines’ broadband infrastructure, as the limited internet connection affects many people and future opportunities.
