The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has launched enforcement proceedings against the country’s three major mobile network operators, imposing daily fines of P100,000 each over persistently poor mobile broadband performance in parts of Metro Manila.
The penalties against DITO Telecommunity, Globe Telecom and Smart Communications took effect Sept. 25 and will continue until the identified service deficiencies are corrected, putting additional pressure on the operators to improve network performance in affected areas.
The NTC said its latest speed-test revalidation found no measurable improvement from the poor mobile broadband results recorded during its first- and second-quarter validation activities in 2026.
“The September results confirmed that previously recorded poor mobile broadband signals remain substantially unchanged,” the regulator said in a Sept. 25 statement, despite operators having been given an opportunity to undertake corrective measures.
The NTC identified Manila, Makati and Quezon City as problem areas for Globe; San Juan, Pasay and Las Piñas for DITO; and Parañaque, Manila and Pasig for Smart.
The regulator has prepared show-cause orders for the three operators, with the P100,000 daily penalties starting Sept. 25 and continuing until the cited deficiencies are fully rectified.
The enforcement action is based on Section 17(a) of the Public Service Act, which gives the NTC authority to investigate telecommunications service performance and enforce compliance with regulatory requirements.
The commission will conduct retesting every two weeks in the affected areas to determine whether operators’ corrective measures are producing measurable improvements. It will also continue broader monitoring of mobile network performance across Metro Manila.
The action comes as reliable mobile connectivity has become increasingly important to businesses and consumers, supporting digital payments, e-commerce, cloud-based services, remote work and everyday communications.
For the telcos, the repeated testing means service improvements will face continued regulatory scrutiny rather than being assessed solely on commitments or remediation plans.
The NTC’s move also signals a more hands-on approach to mobile network quality, with financial penalties tied to persistent deficiencies and follow-up testing intended to verify whether service levels actually improve.
