Telcos, gov't urged: Improve Phl Internet systems before 2015

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Bam Aquino said on Thursday that the the local telecommunications industry, the government and other stakeholders should hasten the improvement of the country's Internet systems before next year.

Aquino, who has called for a Senate investigation on the slow and expensive internet services in the country, pointed out that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economic integration will already be in 2015.

He said the ASEAN is pushing for the strengthening of the information and communications technology (ICT) industry since it is considered as one of the drivers in the economic and social transformation of the region.

But with the slow Internet speed in the Philippines, Aquino doubts that the country will be able to compete with neighboring countries with far more advanced technology in terms of web connection.

"With its slow and expensive Internet connection, the country may be left behind in the battle for the information and communications technology market," the neophyte lawmaker said.

"We should step up and shape up or we will be eating dust from the competition," he added.

The senator cited a study commissioned by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers and released by Boston Consulting Group (BGC), saying the Philippines is trailing its ASEAN neighbors in terms of Internet infrastructure.

According to the report, the Philippines ranked 47th among 65 countries covered by the so-called BGC "e-Friction Index", or factors that can inhibit consumers, businesses and others from fully participating in the national and the international Internet economy.

The report also revealed that the Philippines was 53rd in terms of infrastructure friction component, which is composed of fixed and mobile-broadband connections, bandwidth speeds and pricing, among other things.

The country has the eighth most-expensive fixed broadband pricing among 65 nations included in the study.

"I called for an investigation to find solutions that will fix the situation and eventually, provide better service to consumers and improve the country's business climate," Aquino said.

He said he wants to know if Filipino consumers are getting their money's worth from the Internet service being provided by local telecommunication companies.

Read: Probe 'slow, expensive' internet in Phl - Bam Aquino