Sen. Recto calls for 10 Mbps minimum Internet speed

After filing Senate Bill No. 2232 or the “Free Metro Manila WiFi Act of 2014“, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto files another Senate Bill called “Bilis Konek Act of 2014” that will require ISPs to offer a minimum Internet speed of 10 Mbps.

The Senate Bill 2238 or “Bilis Konek Act of 2014″, would empower the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to require all ISPs and telcos in the country to provide its consumers a minimum of 10 Mbps speed for mobile broadband/Internet access. Those subscribed to fixed and fixed wireless broadband/Internet access should have at least 20 Mbps.

“The national march towards a broader Internet or Wi-Fi access should be in cadence with a decent Internet speed. Aanhin mo ang Wi-Fi kung puro ka naman antay?” Recto said.

In a report by Rappler, the NTC has also proposed to make Internet a “basic service” instead of “value added service”, enabling the agency to regulate speed and price.

“Internet is not a basic service [now], meaning the NTC cannot fully regulate it and I think it can be. It is already recognized as a human right,” said Senator Bam Aquino

Senator Loren Legarda, on the other hand, suggested that rates should be reviewed and adjusted. “Fair is fair. The rates should be adjusted lower. Mali ba ako?”

{NewsBytesPH} {Rappler}