Consumer advocacy group CitizenWatch Philippines said the government should work with the private sector in establishing an easy-to-understand connectivity rating system that will serve as a benchmark for property owners and government institutions in providing the right level of connectivity to the volume of their user traffic.
“We have long suffered a mismatch between demand for internet services in public spaces and the quality provided by those in charge of these spaces,” said Atty. Tim Abejo, co-convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines.
“The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., given its avowed commitment to digitally transform the country, should engage in a public-private collaboration that would establish a Connectivity Index Rating in all public and private buildings.”
According to Abejo, the Connectivity Index should be easy to understand and should be displayed prominently in public spaces to give people an idea of the quality of the Internet connection inside the premises.
“Good connectivity is always an asset for any building, including malls, libraries, hotels, coffee shops, even airports. It is a necessity for communications and work productivity,” Abejo said.
“Having a connectivity index rating of an establishment publicly displayed or available online will affect the image of an institution and will force building owners to take steps to ensure high-quality digital connectivity for their users.”
There is currently no means to ascertain the quality of connectivity on any given building anywhere in the Philippines.
As a result, Abejo said, building tenants, customers, and the general public have no way of knowing whether they could even go online when they are out in these places.
“It’s become a guessing game, something that depends on luck,” he said. “It should not be so difficult to determine the number of foot traffic of an establishment and properly match this data to design optimal coverage and broadband network configurations that would provide a
satisfactory experience for internet users in a particular location.”
Abejo pointed out that, “having a Connectivity Index Rating of an establishment publicly displayed or available online will reflect on the brand image of an institution and will force building owners to take steps to ensure high-quality digital connectivity for their users or
customers.”
Abejo suggested that the rating system should be simple for the public to understand, similar to the 5-star rating metrics that hotels are using.
“Such a rating system immediately gives you an idea of the quality of connectivity you can expect,” Abejo explained, “The metrics would show, for instance, internet availability, consistency, signal availability, room coverage, and common area coverage.”
“Ensuring fast connectivity and adequate coverage in government buildings is a fundamental element of the President’s E-Government initiatives aimed to enhance the delivery of government services,” Abejo said.
“A Connectivity Index Rating for all public and private buildings will help boost a systemic digital transformation that our country needs to become competitive in a global digital economy,” said Abejo.