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?
June 25th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Why the shitty service? The business and political elite are used to taking what s not theres, reaping other people’s rewards and giving us less than what we deserve. I think they should all be labeled neo-Kastilas.
June 25th, 2007 at 10:06 am
Sa bahay ang ginagamit na lang namin postpaid Dial-up ng PLDT. Diskumpiyado kasi ako sa DSL ng PLDT. May areas na ok lang ung bilis, meron naman iba na sobrang bagal, o minsan na-lalaglag pa un connection. Nagtataka nga ako dun sa sinasabing 2 year contract. May nakalagay kayang guarantee dun, or disclaimer about the speed? Could we actually file a class action suit ba yun, para ireklamo services nila, like False advertising? I mean, ilang porsiyento ba ng bilis ng internet ang masasabing acceptable? May nabasa kasi ako minsan na minsan up to 60% lang ng claimed speed, covered pa rin sya.
Also, when I read foreign online blogs and columns, parang iba ang speed ng DSL at broadband. Mali ba ako? Comscie grad nga ako pero di ko pa rin gets.
June 25th, 2007 at 6:38 am
You want me to give you an honest and real answer?!
As Pinoy working overseas with the hopes of going back home and because I could not find a job in Manila, I was trying to create a “job” for me so, I opened an internet cafe in Antipolo. I intend to close it in a few weeks. Reason? Visit my site.
Here’s the site: http://www.myinternetville.com. The entries I made pretty much sums up our life with PLDT DSL.
June 25th, 2007 at 2:06 am
I agree with Dr Charles. It’s an OK here in Spore. Not even a single day of discnnectivity (except that Taiwan earthquake). I just pity my brothers and sisters there who are sitll studying thatcant get the most out of broadband services even inschools. 5years may still be not enough to solve this.
June 25th, 2007 at 1:25 am
Ang pagkaka alam ko “up to 2MBPS” means makukuha mo yan pag kunti lang ang gumagamit ng bandwidth, kapag marami na kayo paghahatian nyo yan. So kapag ang plan nyo e merong nakalagay na “up to 2 MBPS” maaaring 10KBPS up to 2 MBPS.