Pioneers recall setting up internet in PHL 25 years ago

Pioneers of the internet in the Philippines on Friday recalled the time when they set up the worldwide web in the country 25 years ago.

According to Sandra Aguinaldo's report on "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho", March 29 marked the silver anniversary of the internet in the country.

"I did not realize that it was going to be this big when we set it up 25 uears ago and it really is mind-boggling," Dr. Rodolfo Villarica said.

Another pioneer said the connection then was not real time.

"Telephone lang noon. Tatawag tapos magdi-disconnect tapos ire-restore," Fernando Contreras said.

In 1994, Kelsey Hartigan Go said the country was connected by a 64 kbps line.

"That was the line then. Today, 64k is very slow," Go said.

Information and Communications Technology Assistant Secretary Alan Silor said all public hotspots were "for free."

"We will put in every public place. That means public parks, plazas, sa munisipyom sa public schools," Silor said.

Even with the improvements over the decades, the internet in the Philippines remains bogged down by its slow speed.

The group Better Broadband Alliance added that 50 million Filipinos still have no access to the internet.

In the Asia Pacific, the Philippines' fixed broadband is the slowest.

Its 4G is the fourth slowest in the whole world.

The group called for more internet service companies.

"Maraming munisipalidad sa Pilipinas na nangangailangan ng maliliit na players na magseserbisyo sa kanila," said Grade Mirandilla Santos of BBA.

"We need to enhance competition," she added.

After the United Nations declared internet access as a basic human right, many believe that it should be made available for free to every Filipino.

"The government has to spend more money on free internet," Villarica said. —NB, GMA News