US-based ISPs entering Philippines this year – DICT

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May 14, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will welcome two foreign internet service providers (ISPs) this year, expanding the options that consumers can choose from when connecting to the internet.

Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda yesterday said two US-based ISPs are entering the country this year to put up satellite-based connectivity in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).

Aguda said the first of the two could receive its license to operate as a data transmission industry participant (DTIP) this May, so its service is ready for activation soon.

Another US-based ISP is also scheduled to enter before the end of the year. This one is waiting for its proof of concept (POC) to complete, but Aguda said it is keen on investing here.

Right now, Aguda said the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is just wrapping up the conversion of old licenses into DTIP certifications. This process covers the existing providers in the Philippines prior to the passage of the Konektadong Pinoy Act.

The measure, which lapsed into a law in 2025, simplified the entry process for telco investors by removing some of the toughest requirements like the legislative franchise.

The DICT is leaning on this law to widen the playing field in the telco industry, with the aim of lowering internet prices by half by 2028.

Aguda said the two prospective investors would also boost network coverage in GIDAs, as their POCs showed they will be using satellite technology to beam internet onto the ground.

Unlike cellular sites and fiber cables, satellites are located above the earth, so they are unaffected by weather disturbances and they can reach isolated towns. Under the Marcos administration, the DICT aims to increase internet penetration to 60 percent of Filipinos by 2028.

The DICT signed a roadshow campaign with the National Electrification Administration to look for power cooperatives capable of serving the electricity needs of incoming ISPs. Power is crucial in scaling up the reliability of last-mile infrastructure.

For 2027, the DICT will ask the Department of Budget and Management for higher funding, as it plans to accelerate the rollout of free WiFi service in the provinces.

To date, the DICT has set up free WiFi sites in more than 60,000 areas, but this is still far from the target of covering 130,000 to bridge the digital divide in the countryside.