Gatchalian to NTC on telcos' poor internet service: Crack the whip if you must!

Senator Win Gatchalian urged the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to compel the telecommunications companies to speed up the construction of new cell towers to finally address the country's connectivity needs.

"All the needed mechanisms are already in place to expedite the construction of telecommunication towers to improve internet services following the enactment last year of the Bayanihan To Recover As One Act. I see no reason why we continue to suffer from unstable and unreliable internet connectivity," he said.

Gatchalian, Vice Chairperson of the Senate Public Services Committee, was referring to the provisions under Bayanihan 2 which temporarily suspended some requirements to streamline regulatory procedures to be able to secure permits and clearances for the construction of telecommunications and internet infrastructures.

Data from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) showed that as of February 18, 2021, a total of 2,860 permits and clearances in 460 cities and municipalities were approved while 848 permits and clearances in 264 cities and municipalities are still pending. The country still needs additional 50,000 towers to adequately connect the entire country. Currently, there are 20,000 existing towers nationwide.

"Habang patuloy ang pandemya, lumalawak ang pangangailangan natin sa internet connectivity. Mawawalan ng saysay ang pinagsumikapan nating batas kung hindi naman ito naipatutupad. Hindi rin natin ramdam ang naiulat na bumilis na mobile internet speed," Gatchalian added.

According to Ookla Speedtest Global Index, the country's internet speed both in the fixed broadband and mobile internet categories continued to improve in February from January this year.

Meanwhile, Gatchalian is also pushing for the Better Internet Act (Senate Bill No. 1831), which he co-authored, requiring all public telecommunication entities and internet service providers to increase service coverage and deliver a minimum standard for internet connection speed.

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Mungkahi ni Gatchalian sa NTC: Papanagutin ang telcos sa palpak na internet service

Hinimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) na obligahin ang mga telecommunications companies na madaliin ang pagpapatayo ng mga bagong cell towers upang tuluyan nang umayos ang internet connectivity sa bansa.

"Lahat na ng kailangang mekanismo upang mapabilis ang konstruksyon ng telecommunications towers ay inilatag na sa ilalim ng Bayanihan To Recover As One Act o Bayanihan 2 na isinabatas simula noong isang taon para masiguro ang maayos na internet service. Wala na akong makitang rason kung bakit patuloy pa rin tayong nagdurusa sa palpak at paputol-putol na internet connection," ani Gatchalian.

Tinukoy ni Gatchalian, Vice Chairperson ng Senate Public Services Committee, ang mga probisyon sa ilalim ng Bayanihan 2 na pansamantalang nagsususpinde ng ilang mga requirements upang umiksi ang regulatory procedures sa pagkuha ng mga permit at clearance sa pagpapatayo ng mga imprastraktura na kailangan ng sektor ng telecommunications.

Sa datos ng Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), aprubado na noon pang Febrero 10, 2021 ang 2,860 na mga permits at clearances sa 460 na mga siyudad at munisipalidad samantalang kasalukuyan pang nakabinbin ang 848 na permits and clearances para sa 264 pang ibang siyudad at munisipalidad. Sa kasalukuyan, nasa 20,000 pa lang ang nakatayong cell towers sa buong bansa at kailangan pang dagdagan ng 50,000 na towers upang tuluyan nang maging maayos ang internet connection sa bansa.

"Habang patuloy ang pandemya, lumalawak ang pangangailangan natin sa internet connectivity. Mawawalan ng saysay ang pinagsumikapan nating batas kung hindi naman ito naipatutupad. Hindi rin natin ramdam ang naiulat na bumilis na mobile internet speed," dagdag pa ng senador.

Ayon sa Ookla Speedtest Global Index, bumilis nitong Pebrero kumpara noong unang buwan ng taon ang internet speed ng mga fixed broadband at mobile internet sa bansa.

Samantala, itinutulak ni Gatchalian ang panukalang Better Internet Act (Senate Bill No. 1831), kung saan isa sya sa mga co-author, na nag-oobliga sa lahat ng public telecommunication entities at internet service providers na palawakin ang service coverage at makapaghatid ng minimum standard para sa internet connection speed.

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