Giving Promised Government Offices 200 Mbps Internet Speed ​​- Manila Bulletin

Senator Grace Poe said the Filipino people look forward to the government’s promised internet speed of 200 megabits per second (Mbps) for state agencies and departments with the completion of Phase 1 of the much-vaunted National Broadband Plan (NBP).

“We predict that by February 2022, we will actually feel the speed of 200 Mbp as promised by the government,” Poe said in his questioning of the proposed budget for the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

“Like the invention of electricity over a century ago, broadband technology is the key to jobs, economic growth and a better way of life as we face pandemic, ”she said.

Poe said the Senate will continue to support the completion of the NBP aimed at improving the quality of the country’s long-standing internet connection.

From his arrest of Senator Ronald ” Bato ” dela Rosa, plenary sponsor of the DICT 2022 budget proposal, we learned that phase 1 of the program should be deployed in February of next year. The program has three phases.

This will increase the internet speed in government offices to 200 Mbps in the National Capital Region, Region 1, Region 3, and parts of Region 2.

The current average fixed broadband download speed is 70 Mbps and 33 Mbps for mobile downloads.

“We applaud the agency’s efforts and I think telecom operators are also stepping up the improvements they need to make, knowing that many are working from home,” said Poe.

Poe also called for the provision of free Wi-Fi connections at state universities and colleges (SUC) to meet the connectivity needs of students and teachers.

DICT said it has so far established 1,832 live sites in SUCs and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) institutions, while 9,586 live sites have been installed in public places. .

It also has 2,989 sites in public hospitals, medical centers, rural health units, quarantine facilities and vaccination centers.

Poe is the author of the Republic Act (RA) 11311, or the Better Terminals Act, which requires free internet services and clean sanitary facilities for commuters at transport terminals.

The Ministry of Budget and Management (DBM) approved a budget of 6.47 billion pesos for DICT for 2022. This was increased by the Senate in its version of the appropriations bill to 9.5 billion pesos.

“With the financial strength of Congress, we hope that DICT will accelerate the completion of the broadband program. Fast, reliable and affordable internet reaching unserved and underserved areas will help us cope with the pandemic. We are convinced that the DICT is up to the historic task, ”said Poe.