III.

Benefits of National Broadband Plan of the Philippines

The nation has long lamented over the speed and cost of Internet services in the
Philippines. According to UNESCAP statistics, some 40% of the Philippine populations
are Internet users as of 2015. Yet, two years later, Filipinos are still able to witness a
page loading. That’s why in 2016, President Duterte had tasked the newly established
Department of Information and Communications technology (DICT) to carry out a
National Broadband Plan (NBP), citing the intended results of free public Wi-Fi access,
as well as the improvement of the country’s overall Internet speed. [1]

Over the course of 10 years (2017 - 2027), the NBP will have produced 4
parallel outcomes through its overall strategy of staging interventions within the
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry. These are:

Accelerated Investment

Market players, such as existing and upcoming Internet and telecommunications

providers, will be given the opportunity to penetrate underserved and unserved areas,
particularly the ones outside of industrial zones and major cities. [1]

Mobilized and Engaged Public and Private Sector

The government will be working with both public and private institutions relevant
to the improvement and deployment of broadband technologies. The crux of this
strategy is coordination among all involved institutions to minimize implementation costs
as well as public disruptions from physical construction. [1]

More Places Connected

All government facilities, public schools, health institutions will adopt current
technologies and benefit from Internet connectivity. In addition to broadband
infrastructures, the government will also utilize other technologies namely spectrum
frequencies and satellites for wider distribution of broadband access. The establishment
of the Philippine Integrated Infostructure (PhII) will enable the same facilities to
utilize ICT services. Integration with existing infrastructure installed by big providers like
PLDT, Globe, and the National Grid, will play a part in keeping costs down. [1]

Increased Take-Up Rate

As broadband access is melded into public institutions and services, the

government will actively promote its use while assessing and adjusting to the needs of
newer users, specifically in the rural areas. [1]

According to the Department of Information and Communications Technology

(DICT) acting secretary Eliseo Rio Jr., the agreement with Facebook is an integral part
of the NBP, as it would allow government to reduce the government’s internet cost and
improve internet speed. The agreement will also make it easier for government to
implement the free public Wi-Fi program which involves setting up wireless internet
access points in public places such as town plazas, parks, government offices, health
units, and transport terminals including train stations, seaports, and airports, and the
national government program which shall serve as the one-stop gateway for all online
government content and transactions.
Middle Mile Connectivity

The middle mile links the backbone to the ISP or telecommunications providers’
core network or telecommunications exchange. In some communities, the middle mile
may connect anchor institutions that enable them to share applications, infrastructure,
and other resources. [2]

Last June, 2019, the DICT signed a tripartite agreement with the National
Transmission Corp. (Transco) and the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) to
use the dark fiber assets for the national broadband plan. Under the deal, the
government secured the right to use and/or access in certain spare fiber-optic cores
(FOCs), vacant lots, tower spaces and related facilities of the NGCP as backbone for
the National Broadband Plan (NBP). [3]

The first phase of the fiber backbone for the National Broadband Plan (NBP) is
set to be completed early next year, an official of the Department of Information and
Communications Technology (DICT) said on Tuesday. DICT Undersecretary Denis
Villorente said the first phase involves the use of the dark fiber or unused fiber optic
cables by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and the National
Transmission Corporation (TransCo). [4]

Dark fiber refers to spare fiber-optic cables, from which data flows in an out.
Combined, two energy companies’ dark-fiber facilities span 6,154 kilometers across
Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. [7] Under the partnership, the NBP, the agency’s
blueprint in accelerating the deployment of fiber optic cables in the country, is coming to
fruition as the NGCP’s transmission facilities can act as the network backbone
interconnected with to-be constructed Luzon Bypass Infrastructure. [6]

DICT also recently inked a deal with the National Electrification Authority (NEA)
and the Philippine Rural Cooperatives Association, Inc. (PHILRECA) for assistance in
tapping electric cooperatives for the use of their infrastructure for the “middle mile,”
which will link the backbone to the point of presence in provinces. [3]
 The DICT said it is set to conduct its pilot testing of the dark fiber grid by
November to December this year. Seven point-to-point routes in Benguet, Tarlac,
Pampanga, Batangas, Mindoro, Albay, Camarines Sur, Cagayan, and Bohol were
identified for the pilot project, which is aimed to test both the integrity of NGCP fiber
optic cables and the latest optical transport technologies in the market. [5]

The DICT added that it expects the NBP to improve connectivity across the
country as it aims to tap existing ICT infrastructures, which saves government
significant time and money while ensuring huge economic return, projected within a two-
year period. [5]
 Reference cite

(1) (https://www.rappler.com/technology/features/164718-what-is-the-national-broadband-
plan)

(2) (https://broadbandmatters.com/what-broadband)

(3) (https://www.bworldonline.com/dict-to-start-pilot-tests-for-national-broadband-plan-
next-month/)

(4) (https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1073332)

(5) (https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1050080)

(6) http://www.manilastandard.net/mobile/article/268851

(7) https://businessmirror.com.ph/2018/06/25/dict-sees-p57-billion-savings-from-national-
broadband-network/