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The Philippine government has taken significant measures to improve national cyber security and digital connectivity. The government held talks with a top broadband satellite operator located in Singapore to close the technology gap with its Asian neighbours.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr of the Philippines expressed interest in satellite technology as a development of the nation’s current capabilities. To preserve the Philippines’ long-term competitiveness, he emphasised the need for a more long-lasting solution.
He stressed the satellite project’s potential advantages for the Philippines, notably in terms of strengthening the country’s economy through more bandwidth and advancing the digital economy. Broadening Internet access has far-reaching effects, increasing remote areas’ access to e-services including e-health and disaster management programmes, as well as chances for online learning and remote employment.
Additionally, broadband satellite services have the potential to help ongoing efforts targeted at enhancing Internet access across the nation as well as facilitate government-to-government interactions. These programmes include the eGOV PH super app, the National Broadband Programme, and the Free WiFi For All Programme.
The Philippines is committed to providing dependable, efficient, and cost-effective satellite Internet services to households, companies, and government agencies across the nation. The Speedtest Global Index’s evaluations of the country’s Internet speed in June 2023 showed the need for improvement.
The average download speed in the nation was 26.98 Mbps for mobile broadband and 92.84 Mbps for fixed broadband. The Philippines ranked 83rd for mobile broadband and 47th for fixed broadband globally. The Philippines was fifth for fixed broadband and seventh for mobile broadband in Southeast Asia.
According to the Philippine President, the symbiotic relationship between improved cybersecurity and digital connectivity has emerged as a significant driver of economic growth and global competitiveness in an increasingly interconnected world. These two factors coming together foster an atmosphere where companies can prosper, innovate, and progress society through technology.
Cybersecurity is becoming a critical foundation that the Philippines wants to prioritise in today’s digital environment. Investments are drawn to secure digital networks, providing a reliable operating environment for existing businesses and start-ups.
Investors are more likely to allocate capital to businesses that show they have a strong cybersecurity framework since it helps reduce risks and protect critical information. This in turn promotes stakeholder confidence and stimulates capital investment in sectors ranging from banking to healthcare.
Likewise, businesses operating within secure digital networks can streamline their operations with minimal interruptions caused by cyber threats. This leads to heightened efficiency, reduced downtime, and increased productivity.
Besides, the Philippines acknowledged technology collaboration as a catalyst for increasing innovation by enabling the exchange of concepts, knowledge, and assets between various businesses or individuals. This synergy has the potential to accelerate the creation of fresh, cutting-edge technologies that would not be feasible to create separately.
President Ferdinand added that collaboration also aids in reducing the hazards related to the advancement of technology in the country. New technology development and implementation frequently involve inherent hazards. By working together, the parties may share these risks, lessening the burden on any one of them and assuring a more rational and balanced approach.
Also, technology projects must take scalability into account, and collaboration makes scaling easier. Production, distribution, and implementation may be scaled up more easily when several organisations work together on a project. This is especially advantageous for innovations that could have a big impact.
