Several groups recently called on local governments to help bring public schools online by facilitating the rollout of Public Telecommunications Entities’ (PTEs) networks. Describing the need to modernize “[Philippine] ICT infrastructure” and develop a “digitally enabled population,” the Stratbase Institute and CitizenWatch Philippines went on to say that “anyone who hinders connectivity, especially on the ground level, is anti-progress.”
PTEs, however, cannot be the only solution to the Philippines’ digital divide. High capitalization requirements make the telco business a good fit for dense, highly urbanized areas where costs can be recouped in a reasonable timeframe. On the flip side, big players tend to shun rural areas and Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs), where connectivity can potentially uplift people’s lives.
According to Department of Education data,[1] only 64.2% of elementary schools, 72.2% of junior high schools, and 67.3% of senior high schools have Internet access. Vietnam, a country with a comparable GDP per capita to the Philippines,[2] has connected nine out of ten schools to the Internet, and is on track to reach 100% by 2025.
One difference is that Vietnam welcomes alternative players to provide connectivity. The Vietnam Telecommunications Law, for example, explicitly provides a licensing scheme for not-for-profit connectivity networks. No such framework exists in the Philippines, where only licensed PTEs — holders of a legislative franchise — are allowed to build and operate a network. While telcos no doubt play an important role in both countries, Vietnam recognizes that the telco business model is not always the most appropriate solution.
Smaller and alternative players, including community networks, help fill the market gap and complement the PTEs’ own network deployments. The National Workshop on Community Centered Connectivity Initiatives (CCCIs) in the Philippines, hosted by the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA) and the Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA) last December 12, demonstrated that groups in the private, civil society, and academic sectors are ready and willing to play this role. Unfortunately, outdated laws and regulations prevent these players from building networks, even when they have the resources to do so.
The Konektadong Pinoy bill currently pending in the Senate addresses these policy roadblocks and promotes diversity in connectivity technologies and business models. By improving ease of doing business, encouraging infrastructure sharing, and promoting use of both wired and wireless technologies, Konektadong Pinoy enables even the most remote community to access the Internet in the way that works best for their context. Focusing only on PTEs directly hinders connectivity — and opposition to the passage of Konektadong Pinoy is anti-progress.
[1] Most recent available data, corresponding to school year 2020–2021.
[2] Based on data from the International Monetary Fund. Vietnam’s estimated GDP per capita for 2025 stands at 4990 US Dollars, while the Philippines is at 4440 USD. – Medium.com
