Government urged to steer new ISPs to remote areas

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The Philippine Star

February 15, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Consumer advocacy group CitizenWatch Philippines has called on government regulators to ensure that the expected influx of new internet service providers (ISPs) prioritizes geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAS), where broadband connectivity remains weak or nonexistent.

Orlando Oxales, lead convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines, said that recent policy reforms, such as the Konektadong Pinoy Act and the new National Digital Connectivity Plan, must translate into concrete gains for communities long left behind in the country’s digital transformation.

“The President was clear that connectivity is already a right, a necessity, and a lifeline. But that right remains unrealized in many coastal, mountainous, and island communities,” Oxales said, echoing President Marcos’ remarks at the Philippine Telecommunications Summit 2026.

The President noted that while 5G rollout, fiber deployment and broadband speeds have improved, “many rural and remote areas continue to face unstable signals and limited broadband access,” citing delays in permits and right-of-way restrictions as persistent barriers.

Oxales said these same bottlenecks could undermine the administration’s ambitious connectivity roadmap if left unresolved.

“Removing the congressional franchise requirement and mandating infrastructure sharing under the Konektadong Pinoy Act were bold reforms. But if local permitting remains slow and right-of-way disputes persist, new entrants will face the same structural obstacles that slowed expansion in the past,” he said.

At the summit, the President highlighted that the Konektadong Pinoy Law opened the sector to wider participation and required co-location and infrastructure sharing to reduce duplication and lower deployment costs.

DICT Secretary Henry Aguda likewise underscored that connectivity is now “core national infrastructure” and central to economic strategy, stressing that progress must be inclusive and regionally balanced.

“Hindi lang ito digital divide, ito ay opportunity divide,” Aguda said, noting that while nearly seven in 10 households in Metro Manila have internet access, many parts of the Visayas and Mindanao lag far behind.

Oxales said this “opportunity divide” should guide regulators, such as the National Telecommunications Commission, in shaping market-entry rules and spectrum allocation.

“If we are serious about inclusive growth, then the entry of new ISPs must be tied to measurable commitments in GIDAS. Incentives, spectrum assignments, even regulatory fast-tracking should favor those who are qualified, have the financial resources and a proven track record to build the broadband infrastructure in unconnected communities of our regions,” he said.

CitizenWatch also stressed affordability. While mobile data prices have fallen, Oxales said GIDAS communities—often composed of low-income households, farmers, fisherfolk, and indigenous peoples—need pricing models that match their purchasing capacity.

“For connectivity to be truly transformative, it must be reliable, affordable, and within reach of the poorest Filipino households,” Oxales said. “The promise of Konektadong Pinoy and the National Digital Connectivity Plan is not just about expanding network, is about expanding prosperity – an objective that will only be fulfilled if regulators ensure that competition leads to better service quality and fair pricing in remote communities.”

“Government must hold new and existing players to the highest standards of performance, transparency and accountability, so that no Filipino is left buffering on the margins of the digital economy,” Oxales said.