MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Erwin Tulfo has thrown his full support behind the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) Oplan Bantay Signal initiative, urging the government to prioritize reliable, accessible, and affordable internet connectivity, particularly in rural and underserved areas—rather than focusing narrowly on headline speed-test results.
Tulfo said that while faster internet speeds were important, they should not overshadow the public’s greater concern for consistent and dependable connectivity that works when people need it most.
“Speed matters, but it is not the only measure of service quality,” Tulfo said. “For most Filipinos, what counts is whether the connection is stable, accessible, and reliable, especially outside major urban centers.” The senator emphasized that digital development must balance infrastructure and infostructure investments. He said that infrastructure referred to physical assets such as power supply, cell towers, and fiber-optic cables, while infostructure covers the information layer, data systems, software, platforms, and interoperable technologies that allow these assets to function efficiently.
Tulfo said the strong infrastructure without a reliable infostructure, or vice versa, limited the country’s ability to deliver sustainable internet services nationwide.
He added that internet service quality should be assessed using broader indicators, including accessibility, reliability, and long-term sustainability among broadband providers and network operators, rather than speed alone.
Cost and Affordability Concerns
Tulfo also raised concerns over the cost of internet services, noting that while telecommunications firms have taken steps to lower prices, affordability remains a pressing issue.
“At this point, internet access is essentially a basic human right,” he said. “Every Filipino should be able to afford it.” The senator expressed support for reviewing policy options to reduce internet costs, including possible subsidies on power expenses, which significantly affect data centers, network operations, and overall service pricing. The Philippines consistently ranks among countries with the highest electricity costs in Asia, placing added pressure on the digital sector.
Data from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) show that home internet expenses account for about 13 percent of the monthly income of poor households and up to 7 percent for low-income families, underscoring the financial burden of connectivity.
Persistent Access Gaps
Tulfo highlighted persistent disparities in internet access across regions, citing PIDS findings that the absence of broadband infrastructure and services are most severe in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, where 41 percent of areas lack connectivity.
In the Cordillera Administrative Region, mountainous terrain poses last-mile challenges, leaving many communities without any internet service provider. Region IV-B (Mimaropa) faces similar difficulties due to its archipelagic geography, resulting in zero “complete presence” of internet services. Limited Wi-Fi access also remains common in far-flung rural interiors nationwide.
Experts Echo Call for Reliability
Echoing Tulfo’s position, Stratbase Deputy Managing Director Orlando Oxales warned against overreliance on speed metrics in evaluating internet performance.
“A connection can be ‘fast’ on paper but still feel terrible if it’s unstable, buffers constantly, or collapses in crowded areas,” Oxales said. “Users care more about steady performance than peak speed.” Oxales noted that strict quality regulations centered largely on speed targets have shown limited impact on improving real-world internet experiences in the Philippines. He stressed the importance of resilient networks, backup power systems, better capacity planning, and transparent communication during outages.
“The goal should be consumer protection through reliable service,” he said, adding that excessive compliance costs amid unresolved deployment hurdles ultimately harm the public through poorer service and delayed improvements.
Infrastructure Gap Amid Heavy Usage
For context, South Korea, one of the world’s most digitally advanced economies, has an estimated 1.5 million cell sites, combining macro and small cells. By comparison, the Philippines had about 152,213 combined macro and small cell sites as of 2021, reflecting a significant infrastructure gap.
Despite these limitations, Filipinos remain among the world’s heaviest internet users, ranking third globally with an average of 8 hours and 52 minutes online per day. Within Asean, average mobile data usage stood at 12 gigabytes per connection per month in 2023 and is projected to rise to 44 gigabytes by 2030.
Oplan Bantay Signal
Tulfo’s statements followed the DICT’s partnership with Ookla, a global internet analytics and speed-test platform, to strengthen connectivity monitoring under Oplan Bantay Signal. The program allows citizens to monitor and report internet and mobile network quality nationwide, supporting the government’s broader effort to narrow the country’s digital divide.