The country’s three major mobile network operators have pledged to work with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) following the regulator’s September 24 show-cause order, which threaten daily fines of P100,000 each over persistent poor mobile broadband services in key parts of Metro Manila.
The NTC issued the directives after September revalidation tests showed no meaningful improvement in service quality in areas flagged as problematic since the first and second quarters of 2026. Results showed weak broadband signals remained largely unchanged across identified locations: Globe was assessed in Manila, Makati and Quezon City; DITO Telecommunity in San Juan, Pasay and Las Piñas; and Smart Communications in Parañaque, Manila and Pasig.
Smart said it is fully cooperating with the NTC and will review the regulator’s findings alongside its own network data and independent international performance assessments. The company pointed to the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s Oplan Bantay Signal reports for July and August 2026, which gave Smart an overall “Good” rating. In August alone, it scored 80.2 with average download speeds hitting 52.13 Mbps—ranking as the fastest mobile network with zero crisis cities for four straight months and all measured areas delivering speeds above 15 Mbps. Smart also noted that Ookla recognized it as having the country’s Best Mobile Video Experience for the first half of 2026, with a video score of 72.82, the highest among local operators. Smart said it will combine these independent benchmarks, its own data and the NTC’s findings to guide further upgrades in network quality, capacity and reliability.
Globe said it is reviewing the order and plans to submit its formal response within the 15-day period granted by the NTC.
DITO confirmed it is in discussions with the NTC regarding the show-cause order.
For consumers, this highlight a gap between official regulator findings showing stagnant service in problem spots and operators citing strong ratings from other monitoring bodies. Customers in affected areas may not see quick fixes immediately, as the process plays out—but the NTC’s penalty threat signals stronger official pressure to turn service promises into actual, on-the-ground improvements.
