LIMITED CONNECTIVITY | 65% of areas in Philippines still have no internet access, says DICT

December 28, 2022 , 10:02 AM

By Beatrice Puente

(December 28, 2022) – The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is looking at the possibility of using low-orbit satellites to provide internet access to far-flung areas in the Philippines, its spokesperson said on Tuesday.

DICT undersecretary Anna Mae Lamentillo said roughly 65% of communities in the country still have no internet access. She noted that the said satellites are the same type of technology used by Starlink of controversial billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

“Ang nangyayari rito, hindi mo kailangan mag-lay ground ng fiber. So, for areas na wala pang fiber connection, wala pang digital infrastructure, they will only set up ‘yung parang satellite dish and the people in the community will have access to the internet,” said Lamentillo on One News’ The Chiefs.

Last October, Data Lake Inc. signed a deal with SpaceX for the launch of Starlink in the Philippines—the first in Southeast Asia.

“They (Starlink) need to launch (more than) 4,400 satellites. It’s really difficult to launch so many satellites. But they’re saying that they can complete it and service the Philippines by that time (mid-2023),” said DICT assistant secretary Philip Varilla in an economic forum also last October.

Starlink is expected to provide 100 to 200 megabits per second (mbps) of connection. Subscribers can avail themselves of the Starlink router kit for P33,400 while the monthly service is for P5,500, based on initial reports.

The Digital 2022 Global Overview Report said individuals aged 16 to 64 in the Philippines typically spend 10 hours and 27 minutes online per day. In 2020, the Social Weather Stations said 45% of Filipino adults use the internet, with almost all of them having a Facebook account.

The Philippines, however, struggles with slow connection in many areas. But the fixed broadband median speed already improved from 68.94 mbps last June to 75.62 mbps last July, according to Ookla Speedtest Global Index.

President Bongbong Marcos Jr. doubled down on his promise to introduce programs like Broadband ng Masa and Free-WiFi for All that aim to improve connectivity in far-flung areas.

“It’s a good thing there are plenty of technologies that we can use and take advantage of so that the entire Philippines can experience connectivity,” said Marcos.

Lamentillo admitted that the limited access to the internet makes it difficult for telecommunication companies to roll out the mandatory registration of Subscriber Identity Module cards in some areas. But she noted that these firms will establish a physical booth to reach geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

She also expressed confidence that the efforts being undertaken by the government to improve internet access will help fix the implementation of its programs.

“It’s a game-changer. And I think this is just one of many technologies that we want to bring to the country to make sure we improve access and connectivity sa ating rural areas,” said Lamentillo.

(PM)

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