SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'14 
MAY 26 P 4 :07 
SENATE 
S.No. 2238 
HEC,EIVFD BY: ~-r-
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING INTERNET SERVICE .PROVIDERS 
STANDARD FOR INTERNET CONNECTION SPEED 
Explanatory Note 
TO DELIVER A MINIMUM , 
The access to a wide range of information in this digital age is reached in a few clicks in 
the Internet. The Human Rights Council of the United Nations General Assembly has, in fact, 
declared that access to the Internet is a human right which enables individuals to "exercise their 
right to freedom of opinion and expression."] 
The internet has a pivotal role in advancing economic development and improving 
quality of lite. Aside from the apparent value of facilitating faster and easier communication, the 
benefits reaped from internet connectivity goes on and on. 
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 (SMEs) benefit a lot £i'om access to internet by reducing barriers 
to market entry. It is also essential in attaining and providing jobs, accelerating business 
development, and providing new opportunities for innovation and expansion. 
The internet also allows the enhancement 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 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 information fast through high-speed 
connections and bigger bandwidths. Thus, any party that does not connect to high-speed access is 
certainly left behind. 
According to a report released by a multinational provider of communications technology 
and services, Ericsson, there is a significant correlation between broadband speeds and the 
impact to economic development. The report found that doubling the broadband speed increases 
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 0.3%, which is a considerable impact in anyeconomy.2 
IThe Promotion, Protection, and Enjoyment of Human Rights on the Internet - UN General Assembly Resolution 
(2012), http://www.regeringen.se/contentlllc61l9/64/51/6999c512.pdf, Accessed on May 22, 2014. 
2 New Study Quantifies the Impact of Broadband Speed on GDP, 
http://www.ericsson.com/thecompanY/press/reieasesI20l1l0911550083. Accessed on May 22.2014. 


Unfortunately, the Philippines ranks at the tail-end of world broadband speed rankings 
and is also tagged as one of the most expensive. According to the Net Index data provided by 
Ookla, out of 190 countries, the Philippines ranks 161" with a measly average of 3.4 Megabits 
per second (Mbps) in terms of download speed which is way below the global download speed 
average of 18.4 Mbps. Amid such poor service, the country has one of the most expensive 
monthly cost per Mbps, placing 63"d out of 64 countries, registering at $24.923 or roughly 
PI,120. 
Meanwhile, according to ASEAN DNA 4, in South East Asia, the Philippines ranks last on 
internet download speed mnning at just an average of 3.6 Mbps, in contrast to the average 
internet speed ofIndonesia at 4.1 Mbps, Malaysia at 5.5 Mbps, and the fastest in the ASEAN: 
Singapore at 61.0 Mbps.5 
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 a 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 the Global Web Index as having the 
Fastest Growing Internet Population with a 531 % growth in the last five years6. This requires the 
need for ISPs to provide faster and wider services to cope with the increasing demands of its 
subscribers. 
Faster internet speed surely comes with a price, but faster connection will save costs in 
the long run. The amount paid for bigger bandwidths is definitely higher but long tenn gains 
become more evident due to unparalleled convenience, increased productivity and better 
communication between the sender and the receiver. 
Setting minimum internet connection speed standards not only ensures that consumers 
get the best quality of the service they pay for, but also makes the country connect up-to-date to 
our fast-changing world. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval ofthis bill is earnestly sought. 
3 Household Download Index, http://www.netindex.comidownload/2.10/Philippines/. Accessed on May 22. 2014; 
Download Speed results were obtained by analyzing test data fi'om April 21, 2014 to May 20,2014 from 2,435,077 
unique IP Addresses; Median cost per Mbps results were obtained from analyzing survey results between May 20, 
2013 and May 20,2014. 
4 ASEAN DNA is a site to promote a better understanding and appreciation of shared values and common 
characteristics of ASEAN. It is owned and managed by Human Resources Institute, Thammasat University and 
operated by IBMP Club, Thammasat Business School, hltps:l/www.facebookcom/ASEANDNA 
, ASEAN Average Internet Speed 2014, www.faceboolccomiASEANDNAIphotos/.AccessedonMay22. 2014. 
6 Fastest Growing Intemet Populations, globalwebindex.net (Q4 2013). Accessed on May 22,2014. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'14 
MAY 26 P t1 :07 
SENATE 
S.No. 2238 
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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Bilis Konek Act of20 14." 
2 
SEC. 2. Declaration Policy. - The State recognizes the vital role of communication and 
3 
information in nation building and as such, it shall implement measures to provide 
4 
communication standards suitable to the needs and aspirations of the nation. 
5 
The State gives priority to the protection of interests of consumers and the establishment 
6 
of standards of conduct for business and industry for advancements in the field of 
7 
telecommunications and connectivity. 
8 
In recognition of the significant role of the internet in this information age, the State 
9 
ensures that internet users and subscribers be accorded the best quality of internet connection 
10 
service. 
11 
SEC. 3. Definition. - For the purpose of this Act, the term: 
12 
a) Bandwidth shall refer to the measurement of data rate of available or 
13 
consumed data communication resources expressed in bits per second or 
14 
multiples of it. 
15 
b) Broadband shall refer to a transmission medium which enables high-speed 
16 
Internet access transmitted through various technologies such as the Digital 
17 
Subscriber Line (DSL), Cable Modem, Fiber Optics, Wireless, Satellite, 
18 
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), and White 
19 
Space. 
20 
c) Internet Service Providers or ISPs shall refer to commercial entities with a 
21 
nationwide franchise that enable users to access Internet content and 
22 
services. It may also refer to a public telecommunications entity offering a 
23 
value-added service such as the internet. 
Page 1 of2 


I 
d) Public Telecommunications Entity or PTE shall refer to any person, finn, 
2 
partnership or corporation, government or private, engaged in the provision 
3 
of telecommunications services to the public for a fee. 
4 
~EC. 4. Standards on Broadband/Internet Service. - Within two (2) years from the 
5 
effectivity of this Act, all ISPs shall provide a minimum internet download speed of 10 Mbps for 
6 
mobile broadbandlinternet access and 20 Mbps for fixed and fixed wireless broadband/internet 
7 
access and work towards providing an average internet connection speed above global average. 
8 
In order to meet the prescribed minimum standards, ISPs or PTEs shall modify, improve, 
9 
or change telecommunication lines and systems or expand their infrastructure to run on higher 
10 
capacity bandwidths based on the number of subsctibers demanding for their services. 
II 
SEC. 5. Regulation. - The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) shall, by 
12 
regulation, establish requirements as deemed appropriate to ensure that ISPs meet the minimum 
13 
standards in internet connection speed, which shall include standards regarding connection, 
14 
reception, just pricing, and billing practices to promote and protect the rights of consumers of 
15 
internet services. 
16 
SEC. 6. Penalties. - Any ISP who shall not meet the minimum standards mentioned 
17 
under S~ction 4 hereof or the regulations promulgated thereunder, shall, upon conviction, be , 
18 
subject to the penalty of a fine of not less than Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) but 
19 
not to exceed Two million pesos (P2,000,000.00). 
20 
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The NTC and the Information and 
21 
Communications Technology Office under the Department of Science and Technology shall 
22 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation ofthe provisions 
23 
of this Act. 
24 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or 
25 
invalid, other patis or provisions hereof not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and 
26 
effect. 
27 
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, issuances, circulars, rules and regulations or 
28 
parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or 
29 
modified accordingly. 
30 
SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
31 
the Official Gazette or in alleast two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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