Philippines charts 32 years of internet growth

Long before full internet access, Filipino computer enthusiasts in the 1980s built early online communities through bulletin board systems, or BBS, which allowed users to exchange messages and files using dial-up connections.

In 1986, the First-Fil RBBS became the country’s first public-access system, followed by the Philippine FidoNet Exchange in 1987, which linked multiple BBS networks across Metro Manila.

Efforts to build a national academic network followed. In 1990, a government-backed committee led by Arnie del Rosario studied plans to connect universities and state institutions. The proposal did not move forward, but it laid the groundwork for later initiatives.

At 1:15 a.m. on March 29, 1994, Filipino engineer Benjamin “Benjie” Tan established the country’s first direct internet connection at a network center in Makati, linking a Cisco router to a US-based provider through a 64-kilobits-per-second (Kbps) leased line.

Hours later, at 10:18 a.m., the connection was publicly confirmed during an international conference at the University of San Carlos in Cebu, where participants received the announcement: “We’re in.”

However, expansion in the mid-1990s faced constraints, including limited infrastructure and high costs. The telecommunications sector was dominated by a single major provider, and landline penetration remained low.

Access was also concentrated in urban centers and academic institutions, while technical expertise and local digital content remained limited. Such conditions kept internet use within a narrow user base during its early years.

In the following decade, commercial services began to take shape. In 2000, PLDT introduced its Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, or ADSL, expanding internet availability beyond institutions.

New players entered the market over time. For instance, Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. secured a congressional franchise in 2009 to build and operate telecommunications infrastructure, later expanding its network to compete with established providers.

Mainstreaming digital life

More than three decades after the first connection, internet use now spans daily life in the Philippines. Millions rely on online platforms for communication, business transactions, education, and public services.

The 2024 National Information and Communications Technology Household Survey reported that 48.8% of households now have internet access, up from 17.7% in 2019, or around 13.56 million households.

About 67.3% of Filipinos aged 10 and above, or more than 61 million people, use the internet. Most users access the internet through mobile phones, with 98.8% relying on these devices.

Metro Manila posted the highest household connectivity rate at 68.7%, followed by Central Luzon at 61.3%. In contrast, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao recorded 27.7%, while the Zamboanga Peninsula posted 21.2%.

According to DataReportal, 99.7% of the Philippines’ total internet user base, regardless of age, used at least one social media platform in January 2024. Among social media platforms, Facebook still had the largest number of users at 86.75 million during the same period.

Meanwhile, connectivity intelligence firm Ookla reported that median fixed broadband speeds reached about 94.42 megabits per second (Mbps) in the second quarter of 2024, up 51% from 62.51 Mbps in 2022. Mobile speeds also increased, with a median of 27.75 Mbps in early 2024.

Regions in Luzon posted the fastest fixed broadband performance in the Philippines, with the top five areas all recording download and upload speeds above 90 Mbps. Region IV-A or CALABARZON recorded the highest median fixed download speed at 99.55 Mbps, while Eastern Visayas posted the lowest at 38.43 Mbps.

Addressing internet barriers

The World Bank noted that the Philippines only recorded 28 mobile towers per 100,000 people in 2022, about one-third of the Southeast Asian average. Telecom infrastructure investment also declined from 0.64% of gross domestic product in 2018 to 0.44% in 2022.

Cost continues to limit internet access for many households. Among those without internet, 58.3% cited high subscription fees as the main reason, while 41.7% pointed to both service and equipment costs.

Although average monthly spending dropped to P1,069.10 in 2024 from P1,280.59 in 2019, broadband remains expensive relative to income. Fixed broadband costs account for about 11% of per capita gross national income, about twice the Southeast Asian average.

According to the World Bank, outdated regulations remain a major barrier to addressing the digital divide. Laws governing telecommunications, including the 1931 Radio Control Law and the 1995 Public Telecommunications Policy Act, date back to 1931 and 1995 and have not kept pace with technological changes.

To address major internet challenges, the government has launched several initiatives, led by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). These include the National Broadband Program, the National Fiber Backbone project, the Free Wi-Fi for All program, and the Common Tower initiative.

The Marcos administration has also unveiled a P6-trillion National Digital Connectivity Plan aimed at accelerating internet expansion and improving service quality. The plan focuses on four pillars: governance, infrastructure investment, meaningful access, and network resilience.

In a statement, DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda said the connectivity plan, alongside the Konektadong Pinoy initiative, aims to provide affordable and resilient connectivity for every Filipino.

“Connectivity is no longer just a tech issue, it is an economic issue, a job issue, and an inclusion issue,” Mr. Aguda said. “Let us move with urgency, let us move with purpose and let us move together so no Filipino, no matter where they live, is left behind.”

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. also promised to continue pursuing reforms in the telecommunications sector so more Filipinos can access the internet.

“We have seen this progress take shape. The rollout of 5G networks, the deployment of fiber-optic cables, the growth of mobile broadband, and the rise of digital services have transformed how Filipinos communicate, how they study, do business, and engage with government,” he said during his speech at the Philippine Telecom Summit 2026.

At the same time, telecommunications companies are expanding fiber networks and upgrading technologies to improve service. Fiber deployment has increased significantly, with millions of households now within reach of fiber connections.

Fixed wireless access and satellite services are also emerging as alternatives, particularly in remote areas where fiber deployment is difficult due to the country’s geography of more than 7,000 islands.

Satellite internet services, including low-Earth orbit systems, have expanded, though performance and cost remain concerns compared to fixed broadband. — Mhicole A. Moral