SINGAPORE–As usual, being in Singapore has reminded me how unfortunate we Filipinos are when it comes to our information technology infrastructure.
Frankly, I don’t know how our telcos do it. I don’t how, year after year, they can get away with providing us with lousy service while still raking in money. While the availability and affordability of broadband has, to be fair, improved over the years, it doesn’t change the fact that what passes for broadband in the Philippines is laughable by the standards of other countries, such as Singapore. And forget quality of service — if all the horror stories we hear about the quality of broadband in certain areas are anything to go by, even when we part with our hard-earned money, we’re never really sure just what kind of service we’ll get, depending on which area we happen to reside.
So why do telcos get away with providing broadband services that are sometimes much slower than dial-up connections? Why are we consumers expected to grin and bear it if the service in our area is horrible due to some technical problem or lack of adequate coverage?
And to think of all the money they spend on glowing ads that tout how cutting-edge their technology is and how much they’re improving the lives of Filipinos. How many Smart Bro users out there feel like puking whenever they see those ads claiming that this service is the “broadband ng bayan”? Where exactly are these areas where Smart Bro actually has speeds that qualify as broadband? And if you’re one of those users who doesn’t get to enjoy these speeds, sorry ka na lang ba. tiis na lang?
You hear horror stories about all broadband services in the Philippines, whether it’s from PLDT, Globe, Destiny, whatever, that you start wondering if availing of these services in the Philippines is a crapshoot, a game of chance, only we keep ending up with crap.
So what’s the solution to finally ensuring that Filipinos won’t have to put up with shitty service? Is it finally time to get rid of the service area scheme, because quite frankly, I’d like to have as many choices as I can — if only to get the lesser evil. How much are telcos actually investing in their infrastructure?
It’s a pity, because we Filipinos do have world-class talents and skills. We can compete with the best of them when it comes to creativity. But unlike Singapore and countries more blessed than we are, we’re held back by private companies that keep dropping the ball when it comes to infrastructure — and a government that keeps letting them get away with it.
So tell me, who’s your broadband provider, and what’s your horror story?
July 4th, 2007 at 5:55 am
^^ oo nga, evrything works in Singapore, while everything here is so slowwww!!!
worse, manloloko pa, magnanakaw, sinungaling, punung-puno ng katiwalian…
in other words, walan kwenta!!
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Joey,
Meron bang class action suit of any kind against these nefarious providers? If you know of any, please inform us, your readers, and I’m sure a lot will be willing to support this move.
July 2nd, 2007 at 1:38 pm
not sure of the technical definition of broadband but i can surely compare it to dial-up - and most of us assume that if we get broadband - it ought to be faster than dial-up! but its not always the case!
here’s my experience with our so called “broadband” here in the Phil.
i regularly use 3 “broadband” lines: Globelines here in Davao City; SmartBro in Manila; PLDT DSL in Pasig.
I’m subscribed to a 2MBPS Globelines here in Davao but my speed usually clocks in at an average 93kbps!!! Not even half of the subscribed speed!
My SmartBro is even worse. It sometimes clocks in at 40kbps (frequently less pa at single-digits-kbps)!
Both lines also suffer from frequent dropped connections (which is infuriating since I’m an avid mmorpg gamer. hello? death by deadlink!!)
My 5mbps PLDT DSL line is decent at 3mpbs… and hasn’t given me problems since the early 1990’s when i subscribed to it. so I’m happy with that one service. but its also outrageously expensive.
i usually check my net speed via internetfrog.com
so is there decent broadband connection here? yes - but only if you’re willing to pay an outrageous amount for it!
July 2nd, 2007 at 1:36 pm
try bayantel unlimited, its dialup but its fast enough and you can be online continuously. its 799 per month with phone connection.
i had to get this because pldt nextgen phonelines are slow connecting to bonanza and other isp. i think pldt is throtling the connection so you go to their vibe isp or their dsl
authorities should look into this pldt practice
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:51 am
It is not true that telcos can provide internet in the whole country thats a fact. Much more, they can not provide for the broadband requirement of the Government so that all municipal and provincial offices can be connected to a secured intranet which is needed to deliver e-Government services. A secured and reliable intranet is necessary so that those bad days in agencies like nso, dfa can be over. With intranet, goverment work to bring the nso certificates to the provinces instead of the people lining up every day in quezon city.