PH internet access remains inadequate even after 30 years of internet connectivity--Gatchalian

As the country commemorates March 29, 1994 as the day the Philippines was first connected to the internet, Senator Win Gatchalian said that internet access in the country remains inadequate, potentially hampering economic development if left unaddressed.

Citing data from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) based on the 2022 Women and ICT Development Index (WIDI) Survey and the 2019 National ICT Household Survey (NICTHS), there has been a significant rise in household internet access from 17.7% in 2019 to 76.90% in 2022. However, a substantial portion of the country's population being excluded from internet-based technologies may hinder essential economic advancement, particularly in rural areas.

"Without a doubt, the internet is the most game-changing technology that continues to reshape the way we live our lives. It is unfortunate that even after 30 years of internet presence in the country, a sizable portion of our population continues to miss out on its benefits," Gatchalian lamented.

"The internet has become a necessity in the area of education, research and development, business promotion and innovation, communication, and financial management, among others. To realize inclusive economic development, particularly in poorer areas of the country, the government needs to double down on its program to provide internet access to all, he emphasized.

The senator said that to help propel internet connectivity in the country, the use and development of satellite-based technologies should be encouraged and promoted. Gatchalian has filed Senate Bill No. 814 or the Satellite-based Technologies for Internet Connectivity Act. The proposed measure aims to ensure universal access to the internet, especially in critical areas such as e-government and the delivery of basic services, education, health, trade, finance, disaster preparedness, and public safety.

Gatchalian explained that satellite-based internet technology uses a satellite to get an internet signal from the Internet Service Provider (ISP) to the user. The ISP sends a fiber internet signal to a satellite in space. The satellite dish is connected to the modem of the user, which then connects the user to the internet.

Meanwhile, the DICT recently bared plans to double the number of free WI-FI sites in the country with the aim of bridging the digital divide.

Nananatiling hindi sapat ang internet access kahit na 30 taon na ang internet connectivity sa Pilipinas --Gatchalian

Habang ginugunita ng bansa ang Marso 29, 1994 bilang araw na unang nakakonekta ang Pilipinas sa internet, sinabi ni Senador Win Gatchalian na nananatiling hindi sapat ang internet access sa bansa, na posibleng makahadlang sa pag-unlad ng ekonomiya kung hindi matutugunan.

Gamit ang datos mula sa Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) batay sa 2022 Women and ICT Development Index (WIDI) Survey at 2019 National ICT Household Survey (NICTHS), nagkaroon ng malaking pagtaas sa access sa internet ng sambahayan mula 17.7% noong 2019 hanggang 76.90% noong 2022. Gayunpaman, ang malaking bahagi ng populasyon ng bansa na hindi kasama sa mga teknolohiyang nakabatay sa internet ay maaaring makahadlang sa mahahalagang pagsulong ng ekonomiya, partikular na sa probinsiya.

"Walang duda na ang internet ang nagbigay ng mga teknolohiya na patuloy na binabago ang paraan ng pamumuhay natin. Nakalulungkot na kahit na pagkalipas ng 30 taon ng pagkakaroon ng internet sa bansa, isang malaking bahagi ng ating populasyon ang patuloy na hindi nakakatamasa sa mga benepisyo nito," hinaing ni Gatchalian.

"Ang internet ay naging isang pangangailangan na sa larangan ng edukasyon, pananaliksik at pagpapaunlad, promosyon at pagbabago ng negosyo, komunikasyon, at pamamahala sa pananalapi, at marami pang iba. Upang maisakatuparan ang inclusive economic development, partikular sa mga mahihirap na lugar sa bansa, kailangang doblehin ng gobyerno ang programa nito na magbigay ng internet access sa lahat, pagbibigay-diin niya.

Sinabi ng senador na upang makatulong sa pagpapasigla ng internet connectivity sa bansa, dapat hikayatin at isulong ang paggamit at pagpapaunlad ng mga satellite-based na teknolohiya. Pinaalala ni Gatchalian na mayroon siyang inihaing Senate Bill No. 814 o ang Satellite-based Technologies for Internet Connectivity Act. Ang panukalang batas ay naglalayong tiyakin ang pandaigdigang access sa internet, lalo na sa mga kritikal na lugar tulad ng e-government at paghahatid ng mga pangunahing serbisyo, edukasyon, kalusugan, kalakalan, pananalapi, paghahanda sa kalamidad, at kaligtasan ng publiko.

Ipinaliwanag ni Gatchalian na ang satellite-based internet technology ay gumagamit ng satellite para makakuha ng internet signal mula sa Internet Service Provider (ISP) sa user. Nagpapadala ang ISP ng fiber internet signal sa isang satellite sa kalawakan. Ang satellite dish ay konektado sa modem ng user, na pagkatapos ay kumokonekta sa user sa internet.

Samantala, inihayag kamakailan ng DICT ang planong doblehin ang bilang ng mga libreng WI-FI sites sa bansa na may layuning masugpo ang digital divide.