MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will publish within the year a Connectivity Index Rating, scoring the quality and speed of connectivity in public places as proposed by the telco industry.
To incentivize investments on connectivity, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will come up with a rating system assessing the accessibility and reliability of internet services in airports, hotels and restaurants.
The DICT yesterday signed with the largest telco providers in the Philippines a memorandum of understanding to identify the standards that will be used in developing the connectivity index.
Information Secretary Ivan John Uy said the rating system would inform the public where they can best access the internet when outside their homes. As such, they can avoid certain establishments that fail to provide quality internet.
Through this, Uy believes that state agencies and private firms will be compelled to upgrade the connectivity options in their respective establishments. He said nobody wants to get a low score in the measure, especially as this may drive away consumers from visiting them.
“For business and public institutions, the Connectivity Index Rating will allow them to optimize their connectivity requirements based on the volume of user-traffic that they accommodate in the area,” Uy said.
“The Connectivity Index Rating is also seen to push businesses to innovate and invest in quality connectivity solutions that will, among others, increase their brand recognition and expand their customer base,” he added.
Based on the schedule, the DICT should publish the first rating system within the year depending on how long it takes before the guidelines are set.
All of the broadband providers support the creation of the Connectivity Index Rating.
PLDT Inc. president and CEO Alfredo Panlilio said the memorandum formalizes the agreement among telco operators to come up with a connectivity benchmark that should be complied with.
On the other hand, Globe Telecom Inc. president and CEO Ernest Cu said the connectivity index would force business owners and state agencies to invest in better internet.
He observed that one of the most common complaints among consumers is the reliability of connectivity in public areas.
Dito Telecommunity Corp. chief administrative officer Adel Tamano said the firm can contribute in crafting the standards, as it is complying with a set of public commitments in exchange for its franchise to operate as the third player.
Converge ICT Solutions Inc. CEO and co-founder Dennis Anthony Uy, for his part, said the push for a rating system would help the public know which public spaces are internet ready.