Based on the November 2020 intelligence report generated from the Ookla server, the Philippine internet speed improved both in fixed broadband and mobile network.
For fixed broadband, the latest report reflected the country’s average download speed at 28.69Mbps, a 262.71% increase from its download speed of 7.91Mbps back in July 2016.
Meanwhile, mobile network overall performance yielded an average download speed of 18.49Mbps- an increase of 148.52% from its speed of 7.44Mbps back in July 2016.
Dubbed as the “world standard in internet metrics”, Ookla specializes in providing free web service assessments of the speed of individual connection.
The consistent increase in internet speed happened despite COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdowns, which hindered infrastructure roll-out and maintenance of cell sites in various areas of the country since March 2020.
Notably, the improvements also transpired as the country amid the onslaught of typhoons “Ambo”, “Quinta”, and “Ulysses”, and super typhoon “Rolly”.
The said internet speed improvement favorably coincided with the demand surge of 500% for internet services caused by the shift to work-from-home setup and online distance learning, and increased entertainment-related usage due to the imposition of community quarantine guidelines.
In his speech, President Rodrigo Duterte demanded that telco services be significantly improved by the end of 2020.
The country’s internet speed is expected to further improve with the DILG’s collaboration with the local government units (LGUs) in expediting permits related to building cellular towers.
As per Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu, there is a need to reduce the number of required permits by the LGUs and to shorten their processing period to enable the telco industry to build the infrastructure needed to improve connectivity in the country.
DILG Sec. Eduardo Año said that more than 2,200 applications for permits of telco firms to build cell towers have been approved recently in a move to fast-track construction of cell sites for better connectivity services by the end of the year.
Department of Information and Communications Technology Sec. Gringo Honasan has been intensifying the Free Wi-Fi For All project across various provinces to improve online class learning experience of the teachers and students in the remote areas.
Furthermore, the country’s third telco’s upcoming commercial launch as DITO Telecommunity in March 2021 is expected to make telco services better and more affordable.