DICT, telcos ink agreement to establish standardized internet quality ratings

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and telecommunications companies signed an agreement on Friday establishing a standardized rating system for internet connectivity in the country.

At a signing ceremony at the DICT’s head office in Quezon City, the agency and members of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC)-Digital Infrastructure Group —composed of Globe, PLDT, Smart, DITO, and Converge— signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) creating the Connectivity Index Rating.

In particular, the rating system will produce an accessible measure of indoor internet experience quality.

The index rating aims to empower consumers by providing them with clear insight into the connectivity performance of different establishments.

It will assess a range of parameters, including speed, accessibility, availability, and security of internet services.

This comprehensive tool delivers a vital reference for property owners and government institutions, enabling them to ensure the necessary level of connectivity to accommodate user traffic in locations such as airports, shopping malls, hotels, libraries, restaurants, and coffee shops, according to the DICT.

"The benefits of having a nationwide benchmark for internet quality in a particular area could not be overstated. For businesses and public institutions, the Connectivity Index Rating will allow them to optimize their connectivity requirements based on the volume of user traffic that they accommodate in their area," DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy said.

"The Connectivity Index Rating is also seen to push businesses to innovate and invest in quality connectivity solutions that will, among others, increase brand recognition and expand their customer base. More importantly, the Connectivity Index Rating is aligned with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., to accelerate the digital transformation of the country by raising awareness on the availability, quality, and consistency of internet connectivity in buildings used for public purposes," he added.

The Connectivity Index Rating was initially proposed by telecommunications companies to the PSAC.

The MOU, according to the DICT, is seen as an effective solution to address the existing gap in consumer knowledge on the quality of internet connectivity at various venues.

"The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding is an important step towards truly enhancing the digital landscape of the country. Indoor service experience has been a common complaint among customers, and the decision of selecting service providers, including which data plan to get, lies in the hands of building and establishment owners," said Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu.

"Through this rating, public and private sector players will be able to easily identify areas that need connectivity improvement, leading to efficient and effective network investments. Customers can immediately give feedback about their experience, which will ultimately redound to improving overall internet service in the country," he added.

PLDT and Smart president and CEO Alfredo Panlilio said the initiative aligns with the PLDT Group’s "commitment to ensure the highest possible quality of internet and connectivity service for all Filipinos, as well as support the government’s thrust to digitally transform the Philippines."

"We started Converge with the goal of providing world-class broadband connectivity to all Filipinos. We strongly support the creation of a Connectivity Index Rating to help the public measure internet quality in indoor spaces. This benchmark will effectively inject transparency into the internet readiness of public spaces, and push property owners to improve their digital infrastructure as required by their users," said Converge CEO Dennis Anthony Uy.

"We fully support the Marcos administration’s aim to transform our economy through digitalization and connectivity… We can only achieve this through partnership and collaboration between the government and the telco sector," added DITO Telecommunity Corporation CEO Dennis Uy. — VBL, GMA Integrated News