EDITORIAL - Access for all

South Korea is reputed to have the world’s fastest Internet service at affordable rates. In Taiwan, free high-speed Internet is available everywhere. In the Philippines, many people would not know the difference between slow and speedy connection; having Internet access for the first time would be enough.

In the digital age, millions of Filipinos still lack access to the Internet. Addressing this problem should be made easier after President Aquino enacted one of the last pieces of legislation under his watch: Republic Act 10844, which creates a Department of Information and Communication Technology or DICT.

The new department breaks up the functions of the Department of Transportation and Communications – an agency that has been widely criticized for its handling of both transportation and ICT matters. Creation of the DICT will also allow the DOTC to focus on improving mass transportation services and infrastructure.

Telecommunications service providers have said they have long-pending plans to expand and upgrade their services, but their proposals for the construction or installation of the necessary infrastructure such as towers remain stuck in government agencies.

In a comparison of 202 countries, Internet metrics provider Ookla ranked the Philippines 176th in terms of average household download speed. The Philippines also has the second slowest Internet speed after Afghanistan among 22 Asian countries, according to Ookla. It notes that Philippine Internet rates are also among the priciest at $18.19 per Mbps compared to the global average of $5.21.

Internet access has become a right as basic as education. It plays a key role in empowering the masses and alleviating poverty. The next administration must move not only to speed up Internet connectivity but also to ensure that Internet service in this country becomes universal and affordable.