EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E  
S. No. 
4 V 1
. I'.
-/i0(firr 
:i;c -
'19 JUL 15 AlO -36
-ftttt-
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto
AN ACT
REQUIRING INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS TO DELIVER A MINIMUM 
STANDARD FOR INTERNET CONNECTION SPEED
Explanatory Note
In this digital age, the access to a wide range of information is reached in a 
few clicks in the Internet. The Human Rights Council of the United Nations General 
Assembly has, in fact, affirmed the promotion, protection, and enjoyment of human 
rights on the Internet which enables individuals to "exercise their right to freedom of 
opinion and expression."1
The internet has a pivotal role in advancing economic development and improving 
quality of life. Aside from the apparent value of facilitating faster and easier 
communication, the benefits reaped from internet connectivity is boundless. The 
internet improves access to education by accelerating knowledge-sharing and by 
providing students and teachers with the gateway to a plethora of educational 
resources online.
In the business sector, the internet empowers businesses to compete on a 
global level. Small and medium enterprises benefit tremendously from access to 
internet by reducing barriers to market entry. It is also essential in generating jobs, *
'The Promotion, Protection, and Enjoyment ofHuman Rights on the Internet - UN General Assembly 
Resolution (2018), https://documents-dds-
nv.un.orir/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G 18/215/67/PDF/G1821567.pdf:,QDenElemcnt. Accessed on June 20. 2019.


accelerating business development, and providing new opportunities for innovation 
and expansion.
The internet also enhances that effectiveness of disaster relief efforts by 
disseminating information online, implementing early-warning systems, and providing 
downloadable interactive catastrophe maps to reduce the vulnerability of areas prone 
to disaster. These types of information are extremely useful for preparation purposes 
due to the disaster-prone nature of our country.
However, access to the internet alone does not guarantee the realization of 
these benefits under poor and sporadic internet speed connections. The world is 
quickly moving towards digital age and, consequently, one of the main challenges is 
to get quick and accurate information through high-speed connections and bigger 
bandwidths. Thus, any party that does not connect to high-speed internet access is 
certainly left behind.
According to a study published in an International Telecommunication Union 
(ITU) report, there is a significant correlation between broadband speeds and the 
impact to economic development. The report states that in low- & middle-income 
economies, a 10% increase in broadband penetration yielded an additional 1.38% in 
GDP growth.2
Ookla's Speedtest Global Index report for February 2019 showed that the 
Philippines' average download speed for fixed broadband improved by 143.74% from 
7.91 Megabits per second (Mbps) in July 2016 to 19.28 Mbps in February 2019, while 
the country's average mobile broadband download speed also improved by 94.35% 
from 7.44 Mbps in July 2016 to 14.46 Mbps in February 2019. However, there is still 
a need to ensure that this standard is maintained to the majority of the service users.
2 Impact of Broadband on the Economy (2012), https://\v\v\v.itu.inl/lTU-D/lret;/brondbaiid,lTU-DD- 
Reporls Impacl-of-Droadband-on-tlie-Economv.pdf. Accessed on June 20. 2010.


On the other hand, global download speed averages at 27.22 Mbps for mobile and 
59.60 Mbps for fixed broadband.3
This bill recognizes the importance of high-speed internet connections in 
increasing productivity and the growing demands for connectivity. Thus, it mandates 
internet service providers (ISPs) to deliver minimum internet connection speeds of 10 
Mbps for mobile broadband/internet access and 20 Mbps for fixed and fixed wireless 
broadband/internet access to their subscribers. ISPs shall ensure that they 
continuously improve their system and work towards providing an average internet 
connection speed above global average.
Filipinos are quick to adopt to new technologies. Aside from being dubbed as 
the SMS capital of the world, the Philippines has also been named by social media 
firms Hootsuite and We Are Social in its Digital 2019 report as the world's heaviest 
internet users in 2018. This should be supported by ISPs providing faster and wider 
services to cope with the increasing demands of its subscribers.
Faster internet speed certainly comes with a price, but faster connection will be 
economical in the long run. The cost of bigger bandwidths is definitely higher but long 
term gains become more evident due to unparalleled convenience, increased 
productivity and better communication between the sender and the receiver.
Setting minimum standards for internet connection speed not only ensures that 
consumers get the best quality for the service that they pay for, but also makes the 
country connected to our fast-changing world.
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
/e jc v
3 Ookla results are updated mid-month for the previous month. Countries must have at least 301) unique user results for 
mobile or fixed broadband to be ranked in either category.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E  
S. No.
\ ' A
!’ I '
C :•; • 
’
c-. - - • '
' i C M i . r  Il f ; I|i'
'19 
JUL 15 
,'* 1 10 0 6
RFC
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto
AN ACT
REQUIRING INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS TO DELIVER A MINIMUM 
STANDARD FOR INTERNET CONNECTION SPEED
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Biiis Konek A ct'.
2 
Sec. 2. Declaration Policy. -  The State recognizes the vital 
role of
3 
communication and information in nation building and as such, it shall implement
4 
measures to provide communication standards suitable to the needs and aspirations
5 
of the nation.
6 
The State gives priority to the protection of the interests of consumers and the
7 
establishment of standards of conduct for business and industry for advancements in
8 
the field of telecommunications and connectivity.
9 
In recognition of the significant role of the internet in this information age, the
10 
State ensures that internet users and subscribers be accorded the best quality of
11 
internet connection service.
12 
Sec. 3. Definition. -  For the purpose of this Act, the term:
13 
a) Bandwidth shall refer to the measurement of data rate of available
14 
or consumed data communication resources expressed in bits per
15 
second or multiples of it.
16 
b) Broadband shall refer to a transmission medium which enables
17 
high-speed 
Internet 
access 
transmitted 
through 
various
18 
technologies such as the Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), Cable


1 
Modem, Fiber Optics, Wireless, Satellite, Worldwide Interoperability
2 
for Microwave Access (WiMax), and White Space.
3 
c) Internet Service Providers or /5Ps shall refer to commercial entities
4 
with a nationwide franchise that enable users to access Internet
5 
content 
and 
services. 
It 
may 
also 
refer 
to 
a 
public
6 
telecommunications entity offering a value-added service such as
7 
the internet.
8 
d) Public Telecommunications Entity or P7Fshall refer to any person,
9 
firm, partnership or corporation, government or private, engaged
10 
in the provision of telecommunications services to 
the public for a
11 
fee.
12 
Sec. 4. Standards on Broadband/Internet Service. -  Within two (2) years from
13 
the effectivity of this Act, all ISPs shall provide a minimum internet download speed
14 
of 10 Megabits per second (Mbps) for mobile broadband/internet access and 20 Mbps
15 
for fixed and fixed wireless broadband/internet access and work towards providing an
16 
average internet connection speed above global average.
17 
In order to meet the prescribed minimum standards, ISPs or PTEs shall modify,
18 
improve, 
or change telecommunication 
lines and systems or expand their
19 
infrastructure to run on higher capacity bandwidths based on the number of
20 
subscribers demanding for their services.
21 
Sec. 5. Regulation. -The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) shall,
22 
by regulation, establish requirements as deemed appropriate to ensure that ISPs meet
23 
the minimum standards in internet connection speed, which shall include standards
24 
regarding connection, reception, just pricing, and billing practices to promote and
25 
protect the rights of consumers of internet services.
26 
Sec. 6. Penalties. -  Any ISP who shall not meet the minimum standards
27 
specified under Section 4 hereof or the regulations promulgated thereunder, shall,
28 
upon conviction, be subject to the penalty of a fine of not less than Two hundred
29 
thousand pesos (P200,000.00) but not to exceed Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00).
30 
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within sixty (60) days upon
31 
approval of this Act, the NTC and the Department of Information and Communications


1 
Technology (DICT) shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the
2 
effective implementation of the provisions of this Act.
3 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. -  If any provision of this Act is declared
4 
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not affected thereby shall
5 
continue to be in full force and effect.
6 
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, orders, issuances, circulars, rules and
7 
regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
8 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
9 
Sec. 10. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
10 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
11 
circulation.
Approved,