The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has finalized the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the Konektadong Pinoy Act, a priority measure of the Marcos administration aimed at making internet access more affordable and increasing competition among service providers.

DICT Secretary Henry Aguda announced the IRR’s completion, stating it signals a major shift toward empowering Filipinos with better, cheaper connectivity.

The rules were drafted with assistance from key stakeholders, including the World Bank and private and public sector industry leaders.

“Under the new IRR, we are opening the data transmission industry to more qualified players,” Aguda said. “This means that even without a congressional franchise, as long as they pass our technical and security standards, they can receive and provide services.”

Aguda explained that the new rules ensure open and fair competition, lamenting that low investment in the sector had previously slowed performance. He pointed to the rapid economic growth seen in the early 2000s, which was driven by investment in the telecommunications sector.

“Now you can count on the passing of the Connected Pinoy, and more people will invest in the telecoms industry,” he said.

While the IRR does not yet set specific low internet costs, Aguda cited that the DICT has provided incentives for industry players to drive down prices.

For instance, the President expanded the license to operate for tower companies from five years to fifteen years without additional cost, encouraging long-term investment. He also pointed out that mobile services, such as call, text, and data packages, have already become substantially more affordable in recent years.

The DICT is also removing fees for the Private Express and/or Messengerial Delivery Service to give stakeholders more business leeway.

Aguda reported that the DICT, in coordination with the Australian government and local telecom operators, has successfully mapped all fiber optic cables across the country, creating a real-time map.

This mapping effort revealed that 50 percent of the population currently lacks fiber optic connectivity. Aguda said this information will be crucial in the “fiberization” drive.

“We will try to make that 100 percent so that every home has a fiber optic option,” he said, calling the act “an important step towards our President’s goal of providing every Filipino with a fast, stable and reliable connection.”