MANILA, Philippines — A prominent consumer advocacy group is calling on regulators and internet service providers (ISPs) to shift their focus from marketing “impressive” speed test numbers to ensuring reliable and stable connections for everyday users.
In a statement released on Wednesday, January 21, CitizenWatch Philippines argued that for the average Filipino, a steady connection is more valuable than raw speed. The group noted that the most common disruptions—dropped video calls, failed digital payments, and signal outages during typhoons—are issues of stability rather than speed.
The “Real-World” Experience CitizenWatch lead convenor Orlando Oxales highlighted that users don’t need a “speedometer” to know if their internet is working. “People notice it when calls are dropped, when data service suddenly slows or vanishes, or when transactions don’t push through. That’s what disrupts our daily internet life,” Oxales stated.
The group cited several factors that currently undermine the quality of internet service in the Philippines:
- Infrastructure Challenges: Fiber cable theft, right-of-way disputes, and slow permitting for broadband projects.
- Environmental Factors: Frequent typhoons, power interruptions, and challenging geographical terrain.
- Peak Hour Congestion: Mobile data vanishing in crowded areas or slowing significantly during high-traffic times.
A Realistic Standard Citing a 2025 study by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), CitizenWatch pointed out that most daily online activities—including work applications and streaming—require only about 10 Mbps. They warned that “excessive focus” on meeting high-speed targets might cause policymakers to ignore the actual user experience on the ground.
With mobile data usage in the Philippines projected to rise fourfold by 2030 due to AI tools and video streaming, the group stressed that reliability is now a matter of consumer protection.
“Consumer protection is not about chasing the fastest possible speed… It’s about setting realistic standards, removing barriers to infrastructure rollout, and building networks that stay up when people need them most,” Oxales concluded.