The fixed broadband speed in the Philipines escalated in February as telecom companies ramped up building cellular towers and fiber optic network, according to Ookla Speedtest Global Index report.
The report showed that 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 was registered at 142.57 Mbps, representing an improvement of 18.95 percent since the Marcos administration began in July 2022.
Mobile median speed slightly dipped as the country yielded a download speed of 24.58 Mbps from 24.59 Mbps the month before. Average mobile speed was registered at 58.66 Mbps.
The National Telecommunications Commission attributed the improvement in broadband speed to the streamlining and speeding up of the issuance of LGU permits in July 2020 which generated a significant increase in permits granted to telcos from July 2020 to January 2023.
“Improvement on internet speed is largely attributed to this development as telcos are able to fast-track building infrastructure [cellular towers and fiber optic network] necessary in boosting services and connectivity,” the NTC said.
It said that ensuring the improvement of internet speed remains a priority as the country fast-tracks its digitization.
“We are also happy that Elon Musk’s Starlink is also now available in the country to give Filipinos in underserved and unserved areas fast and reliable internet,” NTC commissioner Ella Blanca Lopez said.
Starlink Internet Services Philippines Inc., the Philippine unit of SpaceX, announced in February that its satellite internet service is now available in the Philippines.
The Philippines is the first country in Southeast Asia to enjoy Starlink services which offer high-speed low-latency satellite internet with download speed between 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps.