ISPs ordered to regularly inform subscribers about Internet speed

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has issued a memorandum circular (MC), requiring internet service providers (ISPs) in the Philippines to automatically inform subscribers, among others, about their internet usage starting August 30, 2015.

NTC Director Edgardo Cabarios disclosed the content of the MC called the “measure and publish” during Tuesday’s hearing of the Senate committee on trade on the impact of slow and expensive internet connection in the country. He said the MC was published last Saturday and it will take effect on August 30.

Cabarios said the MC provides that the NTC should perform the measurement of the internet speed connection of ISPs and the measurement tool should be downloadable so that the consumers can perform the measurement themselves.

“But the measurement done by the Commission will be the official one. Measurements will be conducted at least twice a week,” he said.

The results, he said, should be published per area not later than five days after the end of each month but the ISPs would be informed before the publication of the results.

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Cabarios said the MC also provides that the ISPs, in their offer to consumers, should “properly inform their subscribers the service being offered and the information should be updated.”

“They should specify the average downstream, upstream, data rates per area and they should automatically inform the subscribers if the data volume consumed reach 80percent, 85 percent, 90 percent, 95 percent,” he said.

“And when the data volume consumed reached 100 percent, the consumers are reminded that if they continue with the service, they will be charged the normal rates so that there will be no cutting off of the service,” he further said.

Due to competition and the publication of the results of the measurement, Cabarios said, “it’s expected that there will be improvement and increase in the broadband.”

“But the increase will not be substantial,” he said, noting the “limited” private sector investments in the telecommunications industry. IDL