The ‘‘Konektadong Pinoy’’ bill has lapsed into law, ushering in a major policy reform intended to expand internet access and boost competition among service providers nationwide.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced the development in a text message to reporters on Sunday.
The new law, unsigned but allowed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to lapse into law, aims to streamline licensing procedures, promote infrastructure sharing, and enable new players to invest in broadband and data transmission facilities without securing a congressional franchise a requirement long criticized as ‘‘outdated’’ and unique to the Philippines.
The measure is expected to speed up the rollout of internet services to tens of thousands of underserved villages across the archipelago, particularly in remote communities and schools where connectivity remains scarce.
Some telecommunications companies, however, have expressed concern, saying the entry of new providers without a legislative franchise could put them at a disadvantage. They warned that competitors could use existing infrastructure without first obtaining cybersecurity clearance.
PLDT Inc., one of the country’s largest service providers, even hinted at challenging the law in court, cautioning that the reform could create regulatory loopholes and encourage unfair market practices.
The law comes amid persistent complaints over the slow and costly internet in the Philippines, which continues to rank among the lowest in Southeast Asia in terms of affordability and reliability.
The Speedtest Global Index for July 2025 ranked the Philippines 70th out of 104 countries in mobile speed and 54th out of 153 nations in fixed broadband speed. Brunei placed 12th overall and No. 1 in Southeast Asia in mobile speed, while Singapore and Thailand ranked 1st and 10th, respectively, in fixed broadband speed.
Despite government efforts such as the Free Wi-Fi for All program and the creation of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), connectivity gaps remain a challenge for education, commerce, and governance.
Marcos, in his State of the Nation Addresses, has consistently identified digitalization as a priority of his administration, stressing the need to ‘‘connect every Filipino’’ through stronger digital infrastructure.
The DICT is expected to issue the implementing rules and regulations of the new law within 90 days.
