NEDA said the bill promotes more competition in the telecommunications sector by removing the requirement of a legislative franchise for players seeking to build their networks.
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said the proposed measure promotes further liberalization of the telecommunications sector by removing the requirement of a legislative franchise for players seeking to build their networks, rationalizing access and use of the country's scarce spectrum resources, and making it easier for entrants to provide better services for consumers at more competitive prices.
NEDA secretary Arsenio Balisacan also underscored the need to safeguard user privacy and data protection amid the rapid proliferation and development of new technologies.
Scott Minehane, an Australia-based international regulatory and strategy lawyer, said the Philippines has the same amount of spectrum as other countries, but it is up to the country to take full advantage and harness its possibilities.
The business groups stated that the Open Access bill will address the legal obstacles and binding constraints which have long stifled the growth of the Philippine Internet industry in a world increasingly reliant on connectivity to function and advance.
On July 5, Better Internet PH together with nine organizations representing the business sector, ICT industry, and civil society signed a Joint Statement of Support for the immediate passage of the proposed Open Access in Internet Services Act.
Sen. Manuel "Lito" Lapid has filed Senate Bill 1876, which aims to promote open access in data transmission and provide additional powers to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to encourage the construction and development of reliable, affordable, open and accessible data networks.
