By NG Seruela
The Philippines’ fixed broadband average download speed has jumped from 38.46 megabits per second (Mbps) in February to 46.25 Mbps in March, the highest download speed recorded in the country since 2016.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said the figure was based on an Ookla Speedtest Global Index report.
“The March 2021 fixed broadband average download speed increase is the highest jump since Duterte took his seat as President. It represents a 484.70% increase compared to the country’s download speed of 7.91 Mbps back in July 2016,” the department wrote.
The DICT also said that the improvements in the country’s internet speed were noticeable after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte “challenged telcos to shape up PH Internet speed and quality.” It added that the challenge was made so that the country’s connectivity will be “at par or better” than other neighboring countries.
“The [DICT] shall continue to support and monitor the performance of telecommunications companies (telcos) and internet service providers (ISPs) to ensure their intensified efforts to improve Internet service performance this year,” DICT Secretary Gregorio B. Honasan II said.
In its statement, the department and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered telecommunication companies and internet service providers to submit their roll-out plans for 2021 for “easier compliance and progress monitoring.” -jlo
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