The Philippine National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is planning to set a minimum broadband speed requirement to protect the interest of public telecommunications consumers in the country.
The NTC has consulted the broadband service providers at the public consultation to specify the minimum broadband internet connection speed, service reliability and the service rates in their offers to consumers earlier this month. According to NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba, failure on the part of the broadband service provider to comply will mean the filing of appropriate administrative charges against the internet service provider.
"We should protect the interest of the consumers, they pay so much and they should get their money's worth," Cordoba said. Cordoba said complaints received by NTC about slow broadband connection prompted the drafting of rules governing the provision of broadband internet connection late in 2010.
The draft memorandum circular presented during the hearing stated that the minimum service reliability should be 80%; internet connection should be provided on a "best efforts" basis and providers should set a maximum volume of data allowed for subscribers per day. The commission was asked by consultation attendees if it is capable of measuring broadband speeds, should the minimum speed requirement be imposed eventually.
"We have already acquired equipment to monitor the speeds, but we have yet to train our staff to operate it," said Edgardo Cabarrios, Director of NTC's Common Carrier and Authorization Division. The equipment should already be operational by the first week of April, Cordoba added.
Source: FutureGov
