People use the newly launched  ISKOnek WiFi kiosk at the park behind the Bonifacio Monument in Manila on August 14, 2019. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — The Department of Information and Communications Technology is ramping up efforts to provide free internet connectivity to more Filipinos, officials said on Monday.

In its celebration of National Information and Communications Technology Month, DICT said it targets to provide free WiFi for 40 million Filipinos by 2028.

DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy cited a study wherein only 33 percent of Filipino households have access to fixed broadband. In response, the agency has connected 8 million Filipinos from isolated barangays with the Free Wi-Fi for All program.

Dy said the biggest challenge is funding the program which requires approximately P60 billion to reach the target population.

“Nandyan na ang National Fiber backbone. Mas mapapamura natin ang cost ng WiFi with the National Fiber Backbone but even that would require funding,” Dy said. 

(The National Fiber backbone is in place. We can lower the cost of wi-fi with the National Fiber Backbone but even that would require funding.)

The National Fiber Backbone is expected to increase internet connectivity in the Philippines.

Phase 1 of the project was launched in April connecting Laoag, Ilocos Norte to Roces District in Quezon City. Dy said Phases 2 and 3 have been bidded out and will extend the NFB to Bicol and some areas of Visayas.

The DICT is also hoping to launch the Phase 5 to extend internet connectivity to Mindanao. It said funding will likely come from the World Bank.

“We just also defended successfully a World Bank loan that will now connect naman ‘yong nandoon sa Mindanao. Maraming area sa Mindanao is not even touching 10 to 15 percent penetration late. If this loan proceeds, we’ll be able to finish the entire National Fiber Backbone by 2026,” Dy said.

To bring down the cost of internet connection in the country, the DICT is also studying the feasibility of fiber optic sharing among telecommunication companies and internet service providers.

Dy said it has similarities to the Common Tower Policy allowing and encouraging telcos to share cell towers to reduce capital expenditures and operational costs.

“This way, we can also invite investors to also invest in fiber optic cables that can be shared. We’re not saying it’s free. We’re just saying that there should be regulatory framework that can allow these companies to share their infrastructure with one another,” Dy said.

DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy underscored the importance of connectivity as the government pushes for digitalization to extend services to the population.

“Once ma-connnect sila, makagamit sila ng serbisyo ng gobyerno. Hindi na kailangang pumila pa sa mga iba-ibang ahensya dahil napakasalimuot po ng experience ng mga mamamayan natin kung mag-access sila ng government services,” Uy said. 

(Once they are connected, they can use government services. There is no need to queue at different agencies because the experience of our citizens when they access government services is very complicated.)