Regardless of your sentiment about the internet in the Philippines, there’s no denying that our download speeds have been improving compared to previous years. Ookla has been closely monitoring this and said in its Q2 2024 report that the internet in the Philippines improved once again with a median download speed of 94.42Mbps.
Compared to last year’s period, that translates to an improvement of 2.72Mbps in download speeds. Compare it to the same period in 2022, which translates to a big 31.91Mbps improvement in download speeds.
While that’s a considerably good improvement, there are other challenges that the Philippines has to address when it comes to internet speeds in 2024. One of the biggest challenges to address is the large gap of internet speeds between regions.
Based on Ookla’s report, those residing in Luzon–specifically Metro Manila and Central Luzon–have the fastest internet in the Philippines, with download and upload speeds going over 90Mbps. In contrast to Region VIII or the Eastern Visayas region, average download speeds in that area are at a paltry 38.43Mbps. That’s despite efforts from internet providers to accelerate fiber internet deployments nationwide.
Factoring in the Philippines’ geographical layout, providing a good internet connection to remote areas proves to be a challenge to internet providers. This is where 4G, 5G, and satellite connectivity become suitable alternatives. Starlink is the most prominent satellite internet provider in the Philippines, and recent tests show that it is a suitable alternative connection to remote areas. For Starlink’s part, Ookla explains that it is still a costly option if you factor in the equipment and subscription costs, which will cost you at least Php 30k for the former and Php 2.5k for the latter.
With those challenges in mind, Ookla concludes that the government has to establish a closer private-public partnership to boost fiber deployment, especially in remote areas. That way, the Philippines can catch up nicely with its SEA neighbors.
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