Analysis and proposed solutions on slow internet speed in the Philippines ( 7 out of 10 Filipinos have no internet access)

Philippines  September 27, 2015

From Rappler Technology Features

Why is internet speed slow in the Philippines?  The answer does not look simple.  As with other problems, the problem's causes are systemic

This is featured in Rappler and a result of interview with Bayani Lara, Supervising Science Research Specialist at the Department of Science and Technology's Advance Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) and part of the team that runs the Philippine Open Internet Exchange (PHOpenIX).

1  Lack of IP peering as between Globe and Smart, that means that in order for the two system to talk, the system has to get out of the country and say be rerouted to Hong Kong (this jibes with an earlier analysis that PLDT does this)

From Reddit - How PLDT keeps internet speed deliberately slow

2.  The solution would be to have a central internet exchange, but the backbone owner says that this would give undue advantage to small players.




Solution:

1. To have an exchange that would be accessible to everyone, probably a non profit exchange.  As it is the monopoly and the backbone owner is the cause of the slow speed.

If a central Internet exchange was in place where telecoms companies, Internet service providers, and local and foreign companies could all link up and peer with each other, this would mean faster connectivity to most sites and services with less overall cost to many companies.  - Lara

One way to get around this is to run the Internet Exchange as a not-for-profit solution – and therefore a non-competitor in the market – to the country's Internet woes. Another potential solution is if the different companies decided to link their Internet exchanges together as a neutral ground for interconnection, with a board to run it and keep it separate from the for-profit activities of the various companies.

In both cases, management of such an exchange is also a concern, and with competing interests at play among companies, there is a trust issue as well since one company would be put over another on the exchange.

While the DOST is offering to be the neutral monitor and manager, there's also the possibility of making the configurations on the Internet exchange available to all the members of the exchange so fair treatment can easily be checked and monitored.

There is also the matter of security and logistical concerns in terms of telecoms-grade setups, and that's something the DOST-ASTI has little control over with its own budget; DOST-ASTI's own exchange is made from donated equipment at no cost to them.

2.  As proposed by Legislator, Sen Bam Aquino, is to revise the law,  and make internet a basic service.  We need to support this as in the last hearing he conducted, there was poor attendance.

3.  Creation of ONE (Online Network Establishment)  creation of ICT infrastructure nationwide.  Sen Bam Aquino filed Senate Bill 2689 calling for the creation of such infrastructure.  It is necessary because the UN report says that 7 out of 10 Filipinos still do no have internet access

4.  Break the ISP  Monopoly - from Filipino scribe