Fixed and mobile internet speeds in the Philippines have more than doubled between June 2020 and June 2021, according to the latest Speedtest® Global Index by Ookla®.
In June 2021, average mobile internet download speeds in the country were at 32.84 Mbps, twice as fast as the speeds posted in the same period the previous year, while fixed broadband download speeds have also nearly tripled to 66.55 Mbps compared to June last year.
Over the same period of June 2021, PLDT and its wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart)'s fixed and mobile internet average download speeds from results of tests taken with Speedtest were 78.94 Mbps and 50.19 Mbps*, respectively.
The latest Speedtest Global Index reflects the Philippines' fixed broadband download speeds are just behind Vietnam's 74.46 Mbps, but well ahead of ASEAN countries Laos (44.56 Mbps), Brunei (38.56 Mbps), Indonesia (26.17 Mbps), Cambodia (26.10 Mbps) and Myanmar (24.86 Mbps).
Similarly, the country's mobile internet download speeds are just under Vietnam's 43.02 Mbps but also ahead of ASEAN neighbors Laos (30.01 Mbps), Malaysia (26.03 Mbps), Cambodia (25.52 Mbps), Myanmar (22.16 Mbps) and Indonesia (22.14 Mbps).
According to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), this significant progress has also been due to the government’s all-out support in expediting the release of LGU permits required for the fast-tracking of improvement of telco infrastructure.
As of July 13, 2021, PLDT and Smart have secured more than 24,000 fixed and wireless permits since the government fast-tracked approvals for telco firms last year.
These include the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA)'s issuance last year of the Joint Memorandum Circular fast-tracking the issuance of permits and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)'s recently issued Department Order No. 29 (DO 29), which allows telecommunications companies to occupy a portion of the government Right of Way (ROW). DO 29's issuance also assists in ensuring the timely maintenance of PLDT's fiber infrastructure as well as Smart's cell sites.
"Connectivity is essential as the country bounces back from the pandemic. We heed the government's call for world-class internet quality in the Philippines, and we are committed to continue investing in improving our networks to be able to deliver the excellent customer experience that Filipinos deserve," said Mario G. Tamayo, Head of Technology at PLDT and Smart.
To date, PLDT's fiber infrastructure is at more than 511,000 kilometers nationwide, supporting Smart's mobile networks that cover 96% of the population from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi.
