The government is aiming to significantly reduce the cost of internet services in the Philippines, with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) setting a target of cutting broadband prices by at least 40 percent to as much as 80 percent by 2028 under its National Digital Connectivity Plan (NDCP).
The plan is part of a broader push to make internet access more affordable, faster, and more widely available across the country.
According to the DICT, affordability remains one of the biggest barriers to digital inclusion. Mobile broadband currently costs about 1.56 percent of Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, or around 1.8 times higher than the ASEAN average. Fixed broadband is even more expensive relative to income, at 4.69 percent of GNI per capita, more than double the rates in neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Vietnam.
Beyond pricing, the government is also targeting faster internet speeds, with goals of reaching 22.65 Mbps for mobile broadband and 210.64 Mbps for fixed broadband within the same timeframe.
The NDCP also outlines a series of digital inclusion targets, including connecting all public schools, barangays, and health centers to the internet, as well as expanding access to remote and underserved communities. Around 7,063 geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) remain part of the rollout priority.
The plan further envisions the creation of up to 8 million digital jobs as part of efforts to expand the country’s digital economy, alongside the establishment of roughly 130,000 free Wi-Fi sites nationwide.
Officials also want to improve the country’s standing in the Network Readiness Index (NRI) annually, reflecting stronger performance in digital infrastructure, governance, and technology adoption.
To achieve these goals, the NDCP is built around four main pillars: improving governance for digital infrastructure, increasing investment in connectivity projects, expanding affordable and reliable access, and strengthening the resilience of networks against disruptions.
The DICT said the governance component focuses on streamlining policies and reducing regulatory barriers to encourage more investment in telecom infrastructure.
The investment pillar aims to attract both public and private capital to expand connectivity in urban, rural, and hard-to-reach areas.
The access component prioritizes making internet services faster, more affordable, and secure so Filipinos can better participate in online education, healthcare, financial services, and the wider digital economy.
Finally, the resilience pillar emphasizes building stronger and more reliable networks that can withstand natural disasters and other disruptions, a recurring challenge in the Philippines’ archipelagic setting.