From world's texting capital, RP now leads in videos over the Net

MANILA, Philippines - From the world’s text messaging capital, the Philippines is once again in the global limelight for having the highest percentage of users that watch videos over the Internet.

According to global media agency Universal McCann’s Power to the People - Social Media Tracker - Wave 4 survey 98.1 percent, of more than four million Filipinos who are active Internet users watch videos on the Internet, higher than the global average of 82.8 percent. China and Spain follow with 89.1 percent and 84.1 percent, respectively.

“Filipinos use the Internet not only for social networking but also for watching videos in websites like YouTube. This highlights the importance of having a superior, high-speed broadband Internet network in order for subscribers to fully enjoy real-time video streaming such as the previous fights of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao,” Smart Communications public affairs group head Ramon Isberto said.

He added that with high broadband speeds, subscribers can engage in numerous activities on the Internet such as playing online games, and downloading movies and music even while surfing.

Filipinos also enjoy uploading videos, according to the survey, trailing only Korea to be at the second spot. About 67.51 percent of active Internet users in the Philippines have uploaded or shared videos, almost double the global average of 35 percent. Koreans are most active in uploading videos, with 70.98 percent.

Also, majority of local Internet users maintain social networking accounts. The survey showed 3.9 million Filipinos manage a social network profile.

Users primarily use social networks to message friends, upload photos, find old friends, find new friends, join a group, display favorite music, install useful apps/ widgets, upload videos, make contacts for work professional reasons, write a blog, install apps/ widgets for others to see, organize events, display a digital badge, for dating, and promote a band.

But there is still a lot of room for growth in the Philippines, which currently has 21.5 percent Internet penetration. The survey cites Norway as having the highest penetration with 86 percent.

“We are broadbanding the nation, so to speak. Like what we did to the cellphones, we aim to make Internet accessible and affordable to all Filipinos nationwide,” Isberto said. As of end-June, Smart Bro has 1.3 million subscribers. Of Smart’s 45.3 million cellphone subscribers, meanwhile, roughly 10 percent access the Internet from their mobile phones.

Universal Mccann’s survey involved 22,729 Internet users (those who use the Internet everyday or every other day) between 16 and 54 years old in 38 countries.