Panelo hails DICT Internet speed boost

Panelo in his daily online program ‘Counterpoint’ lauded DITC Secretary Gregorio Honasan for his effort to boost the country’s mobile Internet speed to move up in the global mobile Internet speed rankings in January 2021

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Secretary Salvador Panelo on Tuesday commended the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on the improvement of the country’s mobile Internet speed.

The country now ranks 86th in the global rankings.

Panelo in his daily online program “Counterpoint” lauded DITC Secretary Gregorio Honasan for his effort to boost the country’s mobile Internet speed to move up in the global mobile Internet speed rankings in January 2021.

The country was ranked 111th in the same period last year.

“Good work, Secretary Greg Honasan,” he said.

According to the Ooakla report, compared to December 2020, the January 2021 results witnessed a 14.53 percent increase from 22.50 Mbps for mobile and a 4.10 percent increase from 31.44 Mbps for fixed broadband.

However, the average download speed for fixed broadband was recorded at 32.73 Mbps and remained at 100th ranking in the fixed broadband global average category.

The improvement in the country’s telco services was also concluded after President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to improve the Internet speed and quality, and to keep up with the country’s Southeast Asian neighbors.

The National Telecommunications Commission said the Internet speed in the Philippines has improved last year but continues to lag behind in the Southeast Asian region.

Telecommunication Companies pointed out the lack of cell towers as a reason for the slow Internet in the country. They also hit the local government units’ withholding of their tower permits and the bureaucratic red tape.