Philippine internet speeds up in November —Ookla Speedtest

Philippine internet speeds saw improvements in November, according to the latest figures released by global speed monitoring firm Speedtest by Ookla.

The latest Ookla Speedtest Global Index report showed increases in both fixed broadband and mobile download speeds for the country last month.

In particular, the country’s fixed broadband download speed improved to 75.02 megabits per second (Mbps) from the 71.08Mbps recorded in October.

The November fixed broadband download speed level translates to a 5.54% month-to-month improvement.

The latest speed test result also represents an improvement of 848.42% in terms of fixed broadband download speed since the Duterte administration began in July 2016.

Meanwhile, mobile download speed increased to an average of 40.37Mbps in November from 38.12Mbps the prior month.

This is a 5.90% month-to-month improvement for mobile download speed.

The latest mobile download speed also represents an improvement of 442.61% since the beginning of the Duterte administration.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) earlier attributed the said the upward trend in the country’s internet speed to President Rodrigo Duterte’s issuance of directives last July 2020 challenging telcos to shape up and called on government agencies to provide assistance to telcos by streamlining the tower permitting process.

Likewise, in July 2021, the DICT and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) also revised and expanded Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No 001, s. 2021 to harmonize the provisions of the policy and Republic Act No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act.

The DICT said the JMC has been instrumental in reducing procedural delays in securing the necessary permits and documentary requirements in the construction of common towers.

According to ARTA, the policy shortened the timeline to the target period of 16 days compared to the original 214 days. It also brought down permits from 30 to eight and documentary requirements from 86 to 35.—AOL, GMA News