PHP 365M annual fine pushed for failure to provide fast internet by PH telcos

Congress pushed to pass a new bill wherein PH telcos will be fined PHP 1M per day if they fail to provide affordable, reliable, and fast internet.

PHP 365M annual fines for PH telcos?

PH ranks 110th in mobile speed, 103rd in broadband

NTC and Philippine Congress to work together

For years, the Philippines was touted as one of the countries with the most expensive internet services in the world. At the same time, the Philippines ranks as one of the slowest speeds consistently. In November 2020, the Philippines ranked 103 out of 110 countries in fixed broadband internet speed in the Speedtest Global Index. In terms of mobile internet speed, we are dead last at 110.

We are lagging behind Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia for mobile internet speed. For broadband speeds, we are beaten by the same countries except for Iraq, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia.

This pushed Makati City Representative Luis Campos Jr. to file House Bill 7479 that seeks to give the National Telecommunications Commission the power to impose a PHP 1 million per day fine on internet service provides who violate or fail to comply with decisions or regulations made by the commission. This will total in PHP 365 million yearly fine.

What do you guys think?

Source: Esquire Philippines