The National Telecommunications Commission asked telecom companies and Internet providers to ensure a fast and reliable connectivity during the Holy Week.
The NTC, in a memorandum order signed by Commissioner Ella Blanca Lopez on April 4, directed the PLDT Group, Globe, Converge ICT Solutions Inc. and other operators to ensure “reliable and quality connection with sufficient capacity” during the Holy Week break.
It also ordered telcos to ensure that telecommunications services with increased and sufficient network capacity are available 24/7 in areas where people converge such as religious places.
The telcos, according to NTC, should also assign sufficient number of technical personnel to attend to any disruption of service and ensure that “any disruption of service shall not exceed accumulated one hour from April 6 to 10, 2023.”
“Ensure that repair works are done and services restored immediately by strategically locating spare parts, replacement equipment, devices and materials,” the agency said in its order.
It said telcos should ensure that complaints are attended properly and addressed swiftly by sufficiently manning their hotlines which receive complaints.
“Implement such other measures necessary to make the stay of religious travelers enjoyable and memorable,” it said.
The Philippines’ fixed broadband speed improved in February based on a report by Ookla as telecom companies ramped up building cellular towers and fiber optic network.
Ookla Speedtest Global Index showed the country’s fixed broadband median speed improved to 90.03 megabits per second from the 88.13 Mbps registered in January.
Average fixed broadband speed registered at 142.57Mbps. The latest download speed represented an improvement of 18.95 percent since the Marcos administration began in July 2022.
Mobile median speed, however, slightly slowed to a download speed of 24.58 Mbps in February from 24.59 Mbps in January.