DICT: Digital upgrade to expand GDP by 1.1 percent

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

February 8, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines can grow its economy by up to 1.1 percent more if the public and private sectors work together in resolving the backlog in connectivity infrastructure, according to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

At the Philippine Telecom Summit 2026, Information Secretary Henry Aguda said his agency is keen on simplifying the procedures for new telcos to enter and existing players to expand.

Based on DICT estimates, the economy, measured as gross domestic product (GDP), can expand by as much as 1.1 percent if the Philippines achieves Malaysia’s level of telco infrastructure.

“Studies show if we catch up even to Malaysia’s level of telecom infrastructure, we could add up to 1.1 percent to our GDP. Infrastructure sharing alone means lower costs, faster expansion and a wider coverage,” Aguda said.

He said the DICT is urging the private sector to invest in more cellular towers as he underscored the importance of building cell sites in all corners of the archipelago to support digital adoption.

More digital access, Aguda said, could encourage small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to scale up, a win for an economy where SMEs comprise 99.5 percent of businesses.

Likewise, Aguda said such economic contribution from the connectivity industry could be realized if telcos commit to extend their fiber lines to the farthest communities in Mindanao.

The DICT’s latest figures showed that seven in 10 families in Metro Manila have internet access, but this is far from the regional situation where only three in 10 have.

Aguda said Filipinos with no internet access are deprived of job and learning opportunities. They are also denied access to essential services online like e-commerce and telemedicine.

Under Aguda’s watch, the DICT aims to place the Philippines on top of Southeast Asia in terms of internet speed by 2028. Currently, the country is in the middle of the pack in the 11 countries in the region, trailing the likes of Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.