USING ITHE INTERNET FOR EASE OF DOING BUSINESS

USING THE INTERNET FOR EASE OF DOING BUSINESS

It wasn't too long ago when doing business in the Philippines meant first getting a landline phone installed. Without one, you were essentially out of the loop — unconnected and uncompetitive. And it didn’t stop there. Most businesses also needed a fax machine, sometimes even a second landline just to receive documents. Making a long-distance call? You had to physically go to a calling station. Video calls were science fiction.

I remember my father rushing to the downtown telegram office multiple times a day to send messages to Manila — all in the name of business. Face-to-face meetings meant boarding a plane or driving for hours. Today, we do it all online, sometimes even while wearing house slippers.

Now, the internet has replaced our landlines and fax machines. It’s the modern nervous system of our economy. That’s the good news.

The bad news? Our internet is still slow, unsafe, and expensive.

Let’s talk about why. It's not that we lack connections. The problem lies in routing. When we send data from Manila to Los Angeles, for example, it often takes the equivalent of a scenic tour — through Guam, Hawaii, Tokyo, and beyond — before reaching its destination. It’s like booking a flight from Manila to L.A. via Hong Kong, Tokyo, Honolulu, Anchorage, and Seattle — exhausting and inefficient.

This long routing path makes our internet slower and more vulnerable. The more stops, the more chances of data being intercepted or delayed. That’s a serious risk in a digital age where data privacy and cybersecurity are paramount.

Now, here’s the hopeful part: this is not a hopeless problem. In fact, it’s a solvable one. Can we make the internet faster, safer, and cheaper? Yes. And even better.

Better means more availability — even in rural areas. Better means more features — like secure payment systems, cloud access, and remote working tools for micro, small, and medium enterprises. Better means ease of doing business — not just in Manila, but in Marawi, Mindoro, and Maguindanao too.

I won’t presume to tell our internet providers what to do — they surely know their own systems better than anyone. Nor will I dictate to government agencies how to act — because surely, they know what’s at stake. But I do believe that in a free market, what cannot be enforced through regulation might be encouraged through diplomacy. A little pressure here, a bit of collaboration there — it’s a balancing act between corporate interests and the public good.

Let’s look at the facts. The Philippines ranks 5th in broadband speed and 6th in mobile speed in ASEAN, behind Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Our fixed broadband averages 94.1 Mbps, compared to Singapore’s blazing 336.45 Mbps. In mobile speed, we lag again — at 33.7 Mbps, while Malaysia clocks 107 Mbps.

And it’s not just speed. In terms of cost, we pay more than countries like Thailand and Vietnam — who also happen to offer faster and more reliable services. The average monthly broadband cost in the Philippines is $28.21, compared to Thailand’s $16.24 or Vietnam’s $9.44.

Why is this important? Because in today’s digital economy, internet access equals access to opportunity. A slow, unstable connection is not just an inconvenience — it's a barrier to growth.

More than that, it’s about economic empathy. We must stop enriching only those who control the cables and the towers and start thinking about the everyday Filipino entrepreneur trying to file a permit online, attend a virtual seminar, or close a deal with a foreign buyer.

The bottom line: This is not just about tech. It’s about fairness. It's about giving people — especially small business owners — the tools to succeed. It's about using the internet to truly make business easier, not harder. Let’s fix the routes, fix the speed, and fix the cost. Not just for the sake of catching up, but for the sake of moving forward.

iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

07-06-2025