Telcos urged to keep up with holiday internet traffic

MANILA, Philippines — The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has ordered telecommunications companies and internet service providers (ISPs) to beef up their operations in anticipation of a surge in internet traffic during this holiday season.

“You are hereby directed to fast-track your maintenance efforts, increase internet/broadband capacities, and ensure that business continuity and disaster recovery protocols are in place and functioning, 24/7,” the NTC told telcos and ISPs in a memorandum dated Dec. 17.

The NTC said internet and online traffic is projected to increase considerably this Christmas season.

Despite the decline in COVID-19 cases, the NTC said the Department of Health is still encouraging Filipinos to hold their Christmas parties virtually due to the threat of the new Omicron variant.

“During the period from Dec. 17, 2021 to Jan. 7, 2022, please observe a heightened level of emergency preparedness to ensure minimal disruption and downtime strictly complying with the prescribed service performance standards at all times,” the NTC said.

Last year, the NTC also ordered telcos and ISPs to ensure the stability of their services with the expected surge in demand in December as parties and reunions were expected to be conducted virtually for the first time in the country.

In their respective reports, telco giants PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. said their networks have remained resilient amid the surge in internet demand during last year’s holiday season.