MANILA, Philippines — Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda said that the country has solved the problem of internet speed but ensuring reliable and affordable connectivity is a challenge.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda told the Telco Summit 2026 that connectivity should no longer be viewed as a mere technology concern but as a fundamental economic driver.
“Connectivity has become a core national infrastructure that determines economic growth, job creation, and social inclusion,” Aguda said at the Telco Summit 2026 on February 5, 2026. He credited reforms and cooperation with the private sector for recent gains.
He, however, warned that the Philippines must move faster to catch up with regional neighbors.
“It is an economic issue, a job issue, and an inclusion issue. Above all, it is about the future we want for the Philippines,” Aguda said as he stressed that investment decisions, education, and government services now depend heavily on the quality of digital infrastructure.
Aguda noted the significant improvements that have been achieved in internet speed as he cited his personal experiences of reaching 200 Mbps in Cebu and over 400 Mbps on a 5G connection in Metro Manila.
“These developments show that speed is no longer the country’s main bottleneck. What we need now is consistency of connection and more cell sites and expanded network infrastructure,” he said.
During the same event, Aguda expressed appreciation for the positive response of several telecommunications companies such as Globe, Smart, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Inc., DITO and Converge to the government’s call to make their services more affordable and expand coverage in previously unserved areas.
Specifically, he cited the reduction in mobile data costs as he noted that operators lowered the average price per megabyte by 17 percent last year.
However, Aguda admitted that the Philippines still trails several Association of Southeast Nations neighbors in speed, affordability, and coverage.
“The country has improved its ranking from ninth to between sixth and seventh in regional benchmarks, but the President’s target is far more ambitious. He wants us to be at least at No. 2, if not No. 1, before his term ends in 2028,” Aguda told the industry leaders, local officials, and telecom executives during the event.
He also noticed the persistent digital divide within the country, particularly between urban and rural areas.
He said in Metro Manila, nearly seven out of ten households have internet access while in many parts of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, only three to four out of ten are connected.
“It is not just a digital divide, it is an opportunity divide,” said Aguda as he noted that lack of connectivity deprives communities of online education, digital jobs, e-commerce, and basic government services.
He said the government has been addressing these gaps with its flagship initiatives, the ‘Konektadong Pinoy’ and the National Digital Connectivity Plan (NDCP) – the country’s first comprehensive digital infrastructure master plan.
The NDCP, he explained, is an 11-year roadmap requiring an estimated P6 trillion in investments and anchored on four pillars: better governance, expanded infrastructure, meaningful access, and stronger resilience.
Saying Konektadong Pinoy was not just a program but part of reform programs, Aguda said that the initiative streamlines permits, reduces red tape, promotes infrastructure sharing, and encourages more market players.
“These reforms could raise the telecom sector’s contribution to the GDP (gross domestic product) by as much as 1.1 percent and help the Philippines reach Malaysia’s level of connectivity,” Aguda said.
Calling for a ‘digital bayanihan’ among government, telcos, investors, and local communities to bring signal to “every nook and cranny, either on the sea or mountain,” the official assured the private sector of policy stability and faster regulatory processes, describing the effort as a partnership for national development.
“When connectivity expands, markets expand. When access improves, demand grows. When networks are resilient, confidence flows,” Aguda said as he added that the country’s digital transformation “must be structural, long-term, and felt by every Filipino.”
