PH internet speed more than doubled since 2016: US firm

This, it said, places the Philippines at 33rd for fixed broadband and 35th for mobile broadband out of 50 Asian countries in the report. (File Photo: Kaitlyn Baker/Unsplash)

AVERAGE INTERNET SPEED IN PH. A graph based on July 2020 report by US-based firm Ookla shows the average internet download speed, upload speed, and latency of the Philippines’ mobile and fixed broadband networks. Ookla reported that the average internet speed in the country has more than doubled since 2016. (via Ookla Speedtest Global Index as of July 2020 via PNA)

MANILA – Both fixed broadband and mobile broadband internet speeds in the Philippines have more than doubled since 2016, US-based network testing company Ookla reported on Wednesday.

Ookla Speedtest Global Index Report for July 2020 showed 216.94 percent improvement in the country’s average download speed for fixed broadband and a 127.82 percent increase for mobile broadband compared to results four years ago.

“The country’s average download speed for fixed broadband improved from 7.91 Mbps (July 2016) to 25.07 Mbps (July 2020), while average download speed for mobile broadband also improved from 7.44 Mbps (July 2016) to 16.95 Mbps (July 2020),” Ookla said in a statement.

This, it said, places the Philippines at 33rd for fixed broadband and 35th for mobile broadband out of 50 Asian countries in the report.

Out of the 45 countries in Asia Pacific, Ookla said the Philippines ranked 20th for fixed broadband and 25th for mobile broadband based on country-wide average download speeds.

Improvement ‘expected’

Ookla expects the country’s connectivity and internet service to further improve based on the promise of local government units and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to extend full cooperation in expediting permits for the construction of cellular towers.

“Telco market competition is also expected to intensify as DITO Telecommunity rolls-out its infrastructure and services in the coming months,” Ookla said, noting the DITO plans to build 2,000 cellular towers this year alone.

In his State-of-the-Nation Address on July 27, President Rodrigo Duterte threatened the country’s two operating telecommunications companies – Smart and Globe to improve their services or face possible takeover by the government

On July 23, several government agencies signed a joint memorandum circular removing “red tape” in the construction of common towers. It aims to reduce time to process permits from 200 days to 16 days.