PLDT, Globe agree to start peering negotiations

AFTER taking heat from consumers and government officials for the slow Internet speeds in the country, local telecommunications companies PLDT and Globe Telecom have agreed to start peering negotiations.

PLDT initiated discussions with Globe for an Internet protocol (IP) peering arrangement “as part of PLDT’s comprehensive program to improve local Internet linkages, and raise the quality of Internet services in the country,” PLDT said in a statement. PLDT submitted a draft proposal based on international peering practices.

“Our discussions with Globe are part of a broader effort of PLDT to improve Internet services in the country,” said Ernesto R. Alberto, PLDT executive vice president for Enterprise and International Business and president and CEO of ePLDT.

“We are pursuing several parallel initiatives that taken together will help deliver an improved Internet experience for Filipinos,” he added.

Peering is a process that connects two Internet networks and allows them to exchange traffic between their customers.

While they applaud PLDT’s decision to restart negotiations, they lamented that PLDT’s proposal will prevent their customers from accessing content and applications hosted by PLDT data centers.

“The proposal does not go far enough even to meet the definition of peering. We are hoping any bilateral arrangement with PLDT would effectively reduce latency of local intent and improve internet speed. As is, PLDT’s proposed peering agreement won’t be effective in improving the country’s internet speed as it doesn’t allow Globe customers to directly access content and applications hosted by the PLDT group without exception,” Globe chief operating officer Gil Genio said.

Details of the proposal were not provided by the two companies in their separate statements.

However, last month, PLDT said it reached an agreement with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to provide fiber optic facilities that link PLDT to the DOST’s Philippine Open Internet Exchange (PHOpenIX).

PLDT also provided rack space in ePLDT’s VITRO Data Center facility, where DOST has set up and operates its third PHOpenIX node.

This network peering arrangement further improves the resiliency of the government Internet exchange and gives PLDT subscribers better access to government websites hosted in PHOpenIX, PLDT said.

“Local peering will help improve the web experience of Internet users in the country by keeping local traffic local. That is why we struck an agreement with DOST and why we are pursuing another one with Globe,” Alberto said.

“But we need to combine this effort with other initiatives to really have a substantial and sustained impact on the Internet experience of our customers,” he added.

Globe emphasized that an all-inclusive IP peering arrangement among major Internet service providers (ISP) in the country is still needed to boost local Internet speed after PLDT decided to host PHOpenIX. Globe noted though that PLDT’s arrangement with PHOpenIX does not require the dominant carrier to exchange traffic with other ISPs via the local Internet exchange. “Instead, the deal will only allow PLDT clients to peer directly with government websites through the PHOpenIX,” the company said in a statement.

Globe said they have pointed out their concerns to PLDT executives who will reportedly “look at the possibility of revising their proposal”.

“Having an agreement on IP peering is one thing and monitoring to make sure all websites, content and applications are in fact visible to us is another thing and should be a constant process,” Genio said.

Globe wants both parties to ensure that an ideal peering relationship is established, adding that IP peering entails generally accepted practices of peering where one has access to the other and vice versa, unconditionally.

Still, Genio said that PLDT’s decision to negotiate with them is commendable. He added that Globe has been actively advocating for IP peering “for more than six years.”