Business groups have called for the enactment of a law on open access data transmission that would improve information and communication technology services in the Philippines.
John Forbes, senior adviser at the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines said at a webinar his group and other local and foreign chambers are drafting a letter to President Duterte that would make the open access data transmission bill a priority.
Several bills have been filed in previous Congresses but have not prospered.
The open access data transmission act would have game-changing reforms that would tear down the barriers and allow the entry of more players to build and operate a data transmission network in the country.
Forbes said this would pave the way for wider and faster internet access to Filipinos and for more efficient delivery of government services.
Forbes said the business community is looking forward to the removal of congressional franchise, provisional authority and certificate of public convenience and necessity in the industry.
Instead, it would introduce a simple and efficient registration process.
Forbes lamented the fact that the Philippines is the only country in the world where telecommunication franchise is obtained from Congress where the global standard is the permit comes from the regulator.
The reforms would also mandate interconnection and ensure equitable distribution of spectrums.
Mary Grace Santos, lead convenor of Better Broadband Alliance, said to date, the telecommunication industry is heavily concentrated to two players both for fixed broadband and mobile service.
In the same webinar, Santos said new entrants and competition are hindered by outdated policies and regulations.
Santos said new policies under open access to data transmission can usher in new investors to dramatically increase internet connectivity.
She said better connectivity has become more crucial now with the pandemic when remote work and school will have to be embraced.
Santos cited previous studies which said telecommuting among Filipinos is low due to inadequate infrastructure particularly the internet.
About 52 percent of the 47,013 public schools are not connected. Some 80 percent of state universities and colleges are not equipped for online classes.
Natasha Beschorner, senior development specialist at the World Bank in the same webinar also highlighted the need to amend the the Public Services Act and the Public Telecommunications Policy Act.
Beschorner said these amendments and the passage of open access in data transmission bill addressing the access and quality gaps and ease the restrictions on foreign ownership of equity in telecommunications and broadband networks.
