NTC claims improved internet speed, but PH still tails other Asian countries

MANILA, Philippines — The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Monday told senators that the internet speed in the Philippines has improved in the last four years but data from a global index showed that the country is still lagging behind other Asian countries.

NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said during Monday’s Senate public services committee hearing that the average internet speed in the Philippines in terms of fixed broadband improved by 262.70 percent from 7.91 megabit per second (mbps) in July 2016 to 28.69 mbps in November this year based on the Speedtest by Ookla.

The Philippines, however, ranked 32nd out of 50 Asian countries in terms of fixed broadband in October 2020.

Meanwhile, Cordoba said that the download speed for mobile broadband in the country improved to 18.49 mbps in November 2020 from 7.44 mbps in July 2016.

For mobile download speed, the Philippines ranked 34th in Asia in October this year, Cordoba noted.

According to Cordoba, the NTC has yet to secure data on the ranking of internet speed for November.

The NTC commissioner, meanwhile, briefed senators on the situation of the telecommunications industry for the past months amid lockdowns imposed due to the pandemic.

He said the demand for internet use increased by 500 percent after the government enforced a strict lockdown in the entirety of Luzon back in March.

“One area na nagkaproblema ang telcos is people stayed at home, worked from home, the whole family nasa bahay. Ang entertainment nila nasa internet,” Cordoba said.

“Kaya bumagsak ang internet speed in March and April,” he added.

He said the internet speed in the country improved starting May when the government started to ease lockdowns.

EDV