DICT urged to prioritize internet access, reliability in provinces

Senator Erwin Tulfo said pursuit of seamless internet service must prioritize accessibility especially in the countryside not just city centers, and reliability over higher speed-test results as he expressed support for the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s Oplan Bantay Signal. 

Tulfo said that while speed is an important component of the initiative, the DICT must give equal weight to the public’s paramount concern for consistent, reliable, and widely accessible connectivity.

He said that although internet speed is often treated as the primary indicator of service quality, robust digital infrastructure and a strong, interoperable infostructure are equally critical, as these ensure the capacity to deliver stable and dependable connections when users need them most.

"The quality of online services - measured through accessibility, reliability, and sustainability among broadband providers and operators - goes beyond speed alone and is key to delivering efficient internet connectivity for Filipinos," he said.

He added that while the telco industry has been conscious about delivering lower costs of internet services in the Philippines, still cost of internet services must be carefully examined, underscoring that every Filipino should be able to afford internet services at this time when internet is essentially a basic human right. 

He also expressed support in reviewing how cost of internet services can be reduced through subsidies in power costs.  

Data from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) showed that average household spending on home internet connections accounts for about 13% of the monthly income of poor families and up to 7 percent of the monthly income of low-income households.

The senator also highlighted accessibility as another crucial factor in assessing internet service quality nationwide.

In an earlier statement, Stratbase Deputy Managing Director Orlando Oxales echoed similar concerns, emphasizing that service quality should focus on reliability and sustainability, not merely speed-test figures.

“A connection can be ‘fast’ but still feel terrible if it’s unstable, keeps buffering, or falters in crowded places. Users care less about peak speed and more about steady performance when everyone is online,” he said.

He added that strict quality regulations heavily centered on speed targets have shown little evidence of improving real-world internet performance across the Philippines.

He said that resilient networks, backup power systems, improved capacity planning, and transparent communication during outages are just as important as advertised speed claims.

The think tank executive said the overarching goal should be to protect consumers by ensuring reliable internet service, noting that broadband speed is only one part of the overall service experience.

He further called for a realistic approach to digital infrastructure investments, warning that when “policy piles on costly compliance while deployment hurdles remain, the public pays twice - through poorer service today and slower improvements tomorrow.” —AOL, GMA Integrated News