RP must upgrade ICT hardware – German expert

The Philippines should start upgrading its information and communications technology (ICT) hardware if it does not want to find itself left behind such countries as Vietnam and Thailand.

According to Eric A. Behrendt, director of Krone, a Germany-based connectivity provider, Vietnam and Thailand appear to have leap-frogged over the Philippines in terms of the latest hardware needed to receive faster and larger amounts of data.

Vietnam and Thailand, Behrendt observed, are already using the latest cable patchcords classified as Category 6 systems for high speed networks.

The Philippines, Behrendt said, is still relying on the Category 5 e-systems which still results in some data impediments.

He pointed out that the Philippines had been among those in the forefront of ICT development before the Asian financial crisis, of 1997.

However, following the crisis, cost concerns appeared to have slowed down the regular upgrading needed by the Philippine ICT sector.

While the Cat5e systems is still viable, Behrendt said businesses need to upgrade more regularly.

The practice for upgrading is normally every year for software and every four years for hardware.

Most Philippine enterprises, Behrendt noted, are still using the Cat5e systems which Krone feels is now more suited for residential users.

Krone has been providing connectivity solutions to a number of Filipino firms since 1997.