THE Angeles City Council urged the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to validate and test the internet speed being provided to thousands of subscribers.
The random internet speed testing will determine if telecommunications (telcos) would deliver what the subscribers paid for, said Councilor Jesus "Jay" Sangil.
In a joint committee hearing chaired by Sangil of the City Council committee on public works, and Councilor Alfie Bonifacio, chairman of the council's committee on engineering and public utilities, they requested the agency to help validate the internet speed being supplied by Converge ICT Solutions and other telcos.
"We are now well-aware that broadband is now considered among the basic utilities of modern life, a necessity as we go about our private affairs and business dealings," Sangil said.
He added that broadband is critical to the growth of small and big businesses.
"Broadband may create alternative home-based job opportunities for our people -- how broadband may revolutionize public education, safety and health care," he said.
The councilor said people should not look far to see the importance of affordable internet services at globally-competitive speeds.
"All we need to see are the presence of the significant number of Business Process Outsourcing companies, both local and international, thriving within the Angeles City itself and directly employing thousands of Angelenos," Sangil added.
He said he also wanted to know if the internet service being provided by Converge is worth of what the subscribers pay for.
"Maituturing ba na ang presyo ng singil ng Converge ay sulit o katumbas ng aktwal na internet service na napapakinabangan ng kanilang mga subscribers," he said.
"Ayon sa mga eksperto, isang paraan upang malaman ang bagay na ito ay kung maipapakita ng Converge kung magkano ang singil nila kada Mbps o megabits per second upang ito ay ating maikumpara sa singil ng ibang kumpanya kada Mbps," he added.
Sangil said he learned that Mbps is usually the basis in testing the internet speed of service providers like Converge.
"Naipaliwanag po sa atin na ang Mbps ang siyang pinaka-karaniwang batayan upang maikumpara ang bilis ng mga internet service providers katulad ng Converge. Kung mas mabilis ang Mbps, mas maraming pakinabang ang internet. Halimbawa: kung ordinaryong email na walang mga attachments ang nais ipadala, uubra na ang 1.5 Mbps. Kung nais mo naman manood ng pelikula sa Netflix, kailangan mo ng 3Mbps para sa DVD quality, 5Mbps para sa HD quality at 7 Mbps para sa Super HD quality," he said.
Aside from NTC Director Azor Sitchon, representatives from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Converge ICT Solutions Inc., PLDT and other private companies in the industry provide technical advice and recommendations on how to ensure the presence of affordable broadband services at globally-competitive speeds in Angeles City for the benefit of the people and the local economy, Sangil said.
Business, academe, and ordinary subscribers also attended the initial committee hearing. Also present were Councilors Arvin Suller, Joseph Ponce, Dan Lacson, Jerry Alejandrino, Jaycee Aguas, Marino Bañola, and Raco del Rosario. (PR)