Breaking barriers, not the bank: The future of affordable fiber

The administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has nearly reached its midpoint, and as such, the time for a reassessment of its goals has come.

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For Dennis Anthony Uy, who is counted among the President's Private Sector Advisory Council for Digital Infrastructure, the goal remains clear: bring about widespread digitalization to Philippine homes and businesses at a cost within reach of Filipinos.

Since the rise of Converge as a notable player in the fixed broadband scene in 2020, the overall landscape of digitalization in the country has changed rapidly. Fixed broadband penetration pre-pandemic (2019) was at 17.7%. The monthly average cost of fixed broadband in the Philippines was at $53.71 (around P2,500) in 2020.

Where are we now? Based on the latest available data, the fixed broadband monthly cost in 2024 has gone down to $35.55 (P2,079), while penetration rate has gone up to 33.3% (as of 2022)