The government’s digital connectivity efforts should focus more on bringing internet in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), a consumer network group said as it warned that the proposed Konektadong Pinoy Act can worsen the digital divide in the country.
CitizenWatch convenor Orlando Oxales said the bill does not have measures that would mandate new players in the telecommunications space in the country to invest in far-flung areas.
"Rural and remote communities could be left further behind as new players focus on more profitable urban markets, where returns on investment are quicker and more substantial," Oxales said.
"New entrants might resort to aggressive pricing strategies to gain market share, which could force all players to cut costs and reduce investments in critical infrastructure, thus leading to slower expansion, especially in GIDAs areas where broadband services are most needed," he added.
According to Oxales, relaxing restrictions could also be economically detrimental to the country's telco industry, as new entrants might force all players to implement competitive pricing and focus their resources more on urban areas.
The World Bank earlier said that policymakers in the Philippines should focus on reforms and invest more budget to improve the Philippines' broadband infrastructure, as the limited internet connection affects many people and future opportunities.
The latest data from the DataReportal—Global Digital Insights showed that only 73.6 percent of Filipinos are connected to the internet across the Philippines.
According to the Statista Research Department, an international research company, only by 2028 will 98 percent of the Filipino population have access to an internet connection in its current phase.