The Ookla Speedtest Global Index report, now based on median rather than mean download speed, showed increases in both fixed broadband and mobile download speeds for the Philippines in December.
The country’s fixed broadband speed improved to 50.26Mbps from the 46.44Mbps registered the month before.
The latest download speed signifies an 8.22% month-to-month and a 9-notch improvement in global ranking for fixed broadband.
The speed represents an improvement of 535.40% since the Duterte administration began in July 2016.
Mobile speed also increased as the country yielded a download speed of 19.20Mbps from 18.68Mbps the month before.
The latest download speed signifies a 2.78% month-to-month increase in speed for mobile.
The speed represents an improvement of 158.07% since the Duterte administration began in July 2016.
Philippine fixed broadband speed now ranks 63rd out of 178 countries while mobile speed ranks 89th out of 138 countries.
The President’s announcement to streamline and speed up the issuance of LGU permits in July 2020 generated a significant increase in permits granted to telcos from July 2020 to October this year vis-à-vis 2019.
Improvement on internet speed is largely attributed to this development as telcos are able to fast-track building infrastructure (cellular towers and fiber optic network) necessary in boosting services and connectivity.
In refining its data, Ookla explained that median was a measure that captured the typical user’s experience and that presenting the median download speed best reflects the speeds a user is likely to achieve in a market.
In statistical terms, median was less likely to be influenced by outliers than mean.