NTC: Collaborative effort needed to realize faster PH internet speed

Collaboration between the government and the private sector is key in achieving faster internet speed which requires massive capital spending, the National Telecommunications Commission said. 

Government’s financial muscle is an impetus to rally the Philippines into one of Asia’s bright economies. Having a solid telecom infrastructure is crucial to progress especially as the pandemic made online communications and correspondence the new norm, the country’s telco regulator said.

Under the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the Philippines’ National Broadband Plan was set in motion via funding support.

The nearly P2-billion budget for the 2021 National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to accelerate telecom builds, seen to bridge the digital divide in the Philippines.

“The administration’s initiative to hike the budget for the National Broadband Plan is a welcome development, as this will also mean connectivity to more missionary sites or areas without existing telco infrastructure. More is needed to hasten development in this sector, which once done, will spell growth for the broader economy translating to more jobs and livelihood,” NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said.

The National Broadband Plan will require P18-billion to fully implement the ‘digital nation’ blueprint.

"Iyong mga nangunguna po na bansa sa atin, grabe po ang ginagastos ng gobyerno para sa kanilang infrastructure network," Cordoba earlier said.

Thailand for instance earmarked USD 343 million to upgrade its broadband connections, and USD 143 million more to build additional submarine cable lines. All these with the aim of making it “ASEAN’s internet connectivity hub.”

Taiwan for its part will spend USD 2.4 billion to upgrade its digital infrastructure, while Vietnam has allotted USD 820 million to build more submarine cables.

Singapore, Japan, and South Korea have also prioritized investments in their digital and public internet backbone.

In Europe, Germany is set to roll out USD 116-billion for a ‘gigabit internet service’ across the continent’s largest economy.

The United Kingdom meanwhile will shell out USD 962 million to support next generation innovations. Jimbo Gulle