The Philippines’ fixed and mobile broadband speeds have further improved last December compared to the previous month, according to Ookla’s latest report.
Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index report showed the country’s fixed broadband median speed improved to 87.13 megabits per second (Mbps) from the 81.42 Mbps registered the month before.
The latest download speed signifies a 7 percent month-to-month improvement for fixed broadband.
The mobile broadband median speed also increased as the country yielded a download speed of 25.12 Mbps in December from 24.04 Mbps the prior month. The latest download speed is a 4.5 percent month-to-month improvement for mobile.
Ookla said last month’s fixed and mobile broadband speeds represent an improvement of 26.4 percent and 17.3 percent, respectively, since the Marcos administration began in July 2022.
“The continued improvement in internet speed is a welcome development as President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. encourages the country to embrace digitalization if it wants to survive and thrive in a post-pandemic economy,” said Ella Blanca Lopez, National
Telecommunications Commission (NTC) officer-in-charge commissioner.
Streamlining and speeding up the issuance of local government unit permits in July 2020 generated a significant increase in permits granted to telcos from July 2020 to November 2022.
Improvement on internet speed is largely attributed to this development as telcos are able to fast-track building infrastructure, such as cellular towers and fiber optic networks, necessary in boosting services and connectivity.
In a related development, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy announced that over 11 million subscriber identity modules (SIM) have been registered with public telecommunication entities (PTEs) as of January 2.
Of the total, Smart Communications Inc. recorded the highest number with 5.2 million SIMs, followed by Globe Telecom Inc. with 5.03 million and DITO Telecommunity Corp. with 1.02 million.
Smart, Globe and DITO have provided procedures and guidelines for their registration processes, following the nationwide implementation of Republic Act 11934, or the SIM Registration Act, last December.
Uy said the law aims to regulate the issuance and use of SIMs, which are essential in operating mobile devices like mobile phones and pocket Wi-Fis. This is expected to suppress the spread of spam texts and scams using mobile devices.
The registration may be done online through the websites or applications launched by the PTEs. The DICT and the NTC, meanwhile, shall extend support to the telcos in facilitating registration in remote areas where internet connectivity is limited or non-accessible.
The DICT encourages subscribers to register early for a more convenient process. It also reminds subscribers that some difficulties and minor errors are expected to occur during the first days of the implementation, while the telcos fine-tune their registration process.
Users are advised to report any glitch or issues encountered immediately to the telcos or relevant government agencies to be addressed accordingly, the DICT said.
“We are optimistic through our vigilant enforcement of the provisions of the SIM Registration Act and with the faithful compliance of the private sector, we can ensure the safety of our citizenry, and aid our efforts in pushing for a digital Philippines, in line with the vision of President Marcos Jr. We encourage the public to participate and register so we can create a safer cyber community,” Uy added.
