A top international think tank called on government to allocate more budget for broadband infrastructure to expand access and boost the speed of internet connectivity needed to become competitive in the global digital economy.

Stratbase ADR Institute president Professor Victor Andres Manhit said connectivity is now an indispensable utility to bridge the digital divide in the Philippines and to make the benefits of economic growth inclusive.

“President Marcos has on many occasions acknowledged the importance of a sound and stable digital infrastructure for the Philippines,” Manhit said.

“But we have to make sure that this does not only happen in select areas of the archipelago. No one must be left behind in our country’s pursuit of digital advancement.”

The Philippines still lags in terms of broadband speed and coverage. According to Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index as of early 2024, the Philippines ranked 63rd in mobile internet speed and 77th in fixed broadband speed globally.

“These rankings show how much we still have to catch up in terms of connectivity. This is a clear hindrance to our competitiveness at a time when we are angling to be a middle-income economy,” said Manhit.

“Other countries have allotted significant amounts for internet spending, but the Philippines lags behind even in this basic benchmark,” he added.

According to 2023 data from the National Telecommunication Commission, Asian countries are investing aggressively in digital infrastructure.

Compared to the P1.9 billion ($0.032 billion) budget of the National Broadband Plan in 2023, Indonesia’s budget was at $2.06 billion, Malaysia at $5.1 billion, Singapore at $2.8 billion, Japan and South Korea at $22 billion each, Hong Kong at $18 billion, and China at $1.4 trillion.

“Even Vietnam has surpassed us with its $0.82 billion. That’s saying a lot,” Manhit said.