Wanting wifi services

Even for a non-techie like myself, the slow and unreliable Wifi services that are available in the country are frustrating, to say the least. In recent years, I have actually widened my use of the Internet beyond the mandatory e-mailing so, late bloomer that I am, I can now join the multitude of Filipinos clamoring for better broadband services. And to make matters worse, we have the most expensive broadband service, at least in this part of the world.

Singapore is a role model for this type of service.  Not only is it much faster, Internet service rates are also so much cheaper there, as attested to by some friends and relatives who live in the island nation as expats. They can have instant access at the flick of a finger, and it is so cheap that everyone can afford and enjoy the service. So why can’t we have the same quality and price of broadband service here in the Philippines?

Republic Act 7925, otherwise known as the Public Telecoms Policy Act, which was enacted way back in 1995 or almost 20 years ago classifies the Internet as value added service and not among the basic services that government is expected to provide to the citizenry.  As such, the National Telecoms Commission (NTC) cannot regulate it, unlike the SMS (short messaging service) and voice.  NTC is the sole agency tasked with the supervision and regulation of the telecoms and broadband industry, and their mandate is to balance the interest of the consumers and the service network providers. For purposes of RA 7925, only voice service is classified as basic, and since “value added services are deregulated by law”, NTC’s mandate falls short of its regulatory function.

The NTC is now asking Congress to review RA 7925 and declassify Internet service as a value added service.  Indeed, in the almost 20 years that have elapsed since the law was enacted, the Internet has been embraced by a whole generation as a necessary part of their daily lives, and offices can hardly function without broadband services.  Communication through this medium has made the world smaller and Congress should recognize the urgency of NTC’s request to amend this existing law.

By classifying the Internet service as a basic service, it is incumbent on government to provide it, or at least make it available to the people. In the Philippines, this is provided by the private sector, but there are many areas where this is not available, and if it is classified as a basic service, then government is duty-bound to provide it. Recent foreign surveys have again put it in the bottom list of efficient (this includes cost) broadband services and as among the slowest and most expensive. While some of our government agencies may scoff at these surveys as baseless or inconsequential, the NTC at least recognizes the embarrassing citation as a red flag.

B&L (Business & Leisure) talked with NTC director Edgardo Cabarios who readily admits to the frustratingly slow and exorbitantly priced broadband services in the country.  He said that the government is now addressing this through regular consultations/meetings involving Congress, NTC, the telcos operating in the country, and even Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) to find solutions to this frustrating and nagging problem.  One of the solutions that has been identified by the group is for public spending.  Government needs to invest in building the infrastructure, at least in the areas unserved or under-served by the telcos, because it is also their basic right to have access to data service. 

Admittedly, this will cost a lot of money for the government.  Even as NTC has offered its own coffers which amounts to some P4.8 billion from its administrative, supervision and regulatory fees, government has to cough up so much more than that to build broadband infrastructure across the country. We are an archipelago, and that makes it so much more expensive than, say Singapore, which is a much smaller island.  The Singapore government undertook the building of the infrastructure and bidded it out to the private sector at terms dictated by the government. With such a set- up, they ensured top quality service and efficient pricing.

Here at home, according to director Cabarios, the cost alone of submarine cables to provide the infrastructure for broadband services across the archipelago where the private networks have not set up is daunting, but the fact remains that it needs to be done. It is heartening to note that NTC seems to be relentless in pursuing this direction.  The government is considering undertaking the cost of building the broadband infrastructure, but operating it should be given to the private sector, according to the NTC director.  It is one of the options that is now being floated in those monthly sessions of the public-private body that is seeking long-term solutions to our perennial Internet problems.  Should the government opt to do this, according to director Cabarios, it should complement the infrastructure of the private sector.

In the meantime that we have not addressed the quality of these broadband services here at home, why doesn’t the NTC look into the excessive Internet rates first? Perhaps this is a simpler problem.

When we concluded the one-on-one interview with NTC director Barios, his parting words were very reassuring:  “Rest assured that in the coming days, positive results will be felt.  Prices will go down and Internet speed will go up.”  I take that to mean that we consumers may not have to wait that long to get faster and cheaper Internet service after all.  Whether it means that Congress will fast track the amendments to RA 7925 that will classify Internet service as a basic service in order to enable NTC to regulate broadband services in the country, or the government will go into some heavy public spending to build the necessary infrastructure, I would like to hold the NTC to that promise and see the end of this long dark tunnel soon enough.

Mabuhay!!! Be proud to be a Filipino.

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