The Philippines’ workforce demands fast and reliable broadband services as hybrid working continues to be the norm in 2022, according to the latest study of Cisco.
Cisco’s latest Broadband Index, which surveyed almost 60,000 respondents across 30 markets globally including the Philippines, revealed the success of hybrid work hinges on the quality and availability of the internet, with 91 percent of workers saying broadband services need to dramatically improve to support this new way of working.
Dependence on high-performance internet access is underlined by the fact that over eight out of 10 or 86 percent of Philippine workers actively use their broadband at home for four hours or more each day.
Three or more people use the internet at the same time in 83 percent of Philippine households.
The Cisco study further said many teleworkers need more than a basic level of connectivity to support their livelihoods. To address the demand on their broadband connection, more than half or 52 percent of Philippine workers surveyed are planning to upgrade their internet service in the next 12 months.
“With hybrid working continuing to be the mainstay for Philippines’ workforce, access to high-performance, secure, and reliable internet is critical for employees to work effectively and productively when they are away from the office,” said Zaza Soriano Nicart, Cisco Philippines managing director.
With 48 percent of the Philippines’ workforce now relying on their home internet to work from home or run their own business, access to secure, reliable internet is more important than ever to ensure the smooth running of operations.
To work from anywhere, employees need to connect to their company’s networks and applications from outside the office, accessing private data across multiple locations, through multiple devices, via public and private networks.
Workers are becoming increasingly aware that safety and security, as well as speed and reliability, will be vital to the success of hybrid working.
Cisco said 66 percent of Philippine workers who work remotely full time or in a hybrid work arrangement would pay more for a safe broadband connection, revealing that security is top of mind for many respondents.
The Cisco survey underscored concerns regarding the digital divide — 78 percent of Philippine respondents said access to affordable and reliable broadband will become a major issue for people, as connectivity becomes even more vital for access to job and educational opportunities.
More than eight out of 10 or 87 percent of the Philippines’ workforce said they were unable to access critical services such as online medical appointments, online education, social care and utility services during lockdown, due to an unreliable broadband connection.
Beyond the business world, improving the quality of access to internet has a far broader impact on the economy and society, as 92 percent of respondents in the Philippines believe having access to fast and reliable internet is critical to future economic growth, and 90 percent believe it is critical to developing and maintaining a well-educated population.
A similar number of Philippine respondents, 91 percent, said everyone should be able to securely connect to fast and reliable internet, regardless of location.
