The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) plans to cut broadband costs in the country by 40 to 80 percent by 2028 under its National Digital Connectivity Plan.
The agency said internet affordability remains a challenge. Mobile broadband costs about 1.56 percent of income per person, higher than the regional average. Fixed broadband is even more expensive at 4.69 percent, more than double the rates in countries like Malaysia and Vietnam.
To improve services, the government is aiming to boost internet speeds to 22.65 Mbps for mobile and 210.64 Mbps for fixed broadband.
The plan also includes targets to improve the country’s ranking in the Network Readiness Index and to connect all public schools, barangays, and health centers to the internet.
Other goals include creating up to 8 million digital jobs, setting up around 130,000 free public Wi-Fi sites, and expanding connectivity to over 7,000 remote or underserved areas.
The program will focus on four key areas: better policies and governance, increased investment in infrastructure, wider and more affordable internet access, and stronger, more resilient networks.
