Konektadong Pinoy Act Aims to have Faster Internet and Lesser Downtime for the Filipinos

We all want a world where it is rare to have internet downtimes, and if it ever does happen for some reason, it'll get fixed easily and quickly, without any hassles of long waiting hours and irritating customer service calls. But alas, it is not the world we are living in, but this is what Konektadong Pinoy Act is aiming to achieve. Spearheaded by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) under Secretary Henry Aguda, this new law promises to give Filipino internet users something they’ve long deserved — faster restoration times, fairer service, and better protection as customers.

Aguda shared that the DICT is set to finalize the implementing rules and regulations of the Act within the month, which will introduce something long overdue in the telecom industry — a “service level standard” for internet providers. In simple terms, telcos will be required to meet a certain level of performance and accountability. So, if your connection goes down, it won’t take forever to get it back up again. As Aguda put it, it’s time for fair play — if users are expected to pay their bills on time, telcos should also be expected to restore services promptly when issues arise.

Another benefit we get from the Konektadong Pinoy Act is that it is expected to lessen the costs of internet by almost half, due to more players competing in the internet provider market. At last, Juans and Juanas will now enjoy lower internet costs and better internet service.

But this will not only benefit the common Filipino citizen, it will also benefit existing telcos. DICT plans to make amendments to the National Building Code, where telecom infrastructure, like cables and antennas, is to be installed in buildings and public areas without any costs. This will remove the "red tape" that causes delays and corruptions, making the expansion and implementation of nationwide connectivity easier and faster than ever before.

This Act will also make the "WiFi for All" become a reality and not a pipedream anymore. By the end of the year, the department aims to provide free WiFi to 53,000 schools under the Department of Education, as part of a broader plan to reach 132,000 public WiFi sites. The effort doesn’t stop there — 28,000 health centers and eventually all barangay halls are next in line for connectivity in the coming year.

Perhaps one of the most significant milestones on the horizon is the National Fiber Backbone Project, a massive infrastructure initiative that will serve as the country’s digital highway. This is targeted to be completed before the next State of the Nation Address in June. The project will put in place a more secured, nationwide fiber optic network that will connect even the most remote areas here in the Philippines.

The implementation of this national backbone will make sure that the country's connectivity will remain sovereign-owned and secured. It's a step towards a future where the common Juans and Juanas will be empowered  to work, study and connect to the internet without any setbacks and barriers. 

Konektadong Pinoy Act is a move that will benefit every Filipino people for a faster and a more reliable internet, wherever they might be. Let's just see how this pans out and hope for the best. And with projects like WiFi for All and the National Fiber Backbone moving full steam ahead, that promise might finally be within reach.

Source: www.abs-cbn.com