Konektadong Pinoy: An innovative law with many risks

Promises of faster, cheaper internet through more competition make the Konektadong Pinoy Act a bold and sound step in bridging the digital divide and connecting everyone online — so in principle it is a winning proposition for every Juan. However, concealed within the law’s promising language are risks to personal data privacy and even national security. It enables the opening up of data and critical infrastructure to new players, raising concerns about potential vulnerabilities.

Lapsing into law, one of the contentious issues highlighted in the media is the elimination of the longstanding requirement for new entrants — to obtain a legislative franchise from Congress and a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). While the removal of these prerequisites, which were deemed as “red tape,” may attract more participants to the market, it’s important to recognize that the “red tape” was actually institutionalized to protect consumers.

Without proper oversight, anyone — any Tom, Dick, or Harry — can come in and operate a network with minimal regulation and even end up piggybacking on the infrastructure of existing operators. National security experts caution this situation could create vulnerabilities in our digital infrastructure, underscoring that providing connectivity without adequate control is not progress; rather, it poses significant risks.

Governments worldwide are realizing that digital sovereignty is as critical as territorial sovereignty. Therefore, the Philippines must not compromise its cyber defenses for the sake of faster internet.

Removing the franchise requirement erases a layer of public accountability. A franchise hearing, however ministerial and tedious, allows citizens and lawmakers to intervene and examine the ownership, challenge service obligations, and ensure a level playing field for all industry players.

Under the new setup, new entrants can easily choose to focus on profitable urban markets, neglecting remote areas that the law aims to support. With no specific rollout targets or penalties for this neglect, we may see an increase in the number of providers, but not an improvement in service — which would end up being a hollow victory for inclusion.

Existing telcos, despite their flaws, have spent decades and billions building networks under strict regulation. The new framework lets entrants face lighter requirements, cherry-picking profit centers instead of investing broadly. That’s not fair competition but uneven regulation. Left unchecked, this could erode investor confidence, stall long-term expansion, and ultimately jeopardize the very investments the law seeks to attract.

As a Poll Starter, the Konektadong Pinoy Act carries a noble goal of ensuring that every Juan is part of the digital future. However, it requires stronger implementing rules. In a world defined by uncertainties and insecurities, opening our digital frontiers without firm safeguards is a risk we cannot afford.

While the law aims to make connectivity more affordable and accessible, it may inadvertently expose every Juan to a different kind of cost — one measured not in pesos, but in privacy and trust. When new players can easily come and go, they won’t just take profits with them, they could also leave with our most valuable resource — every Juan’s data. When that happens, the connection we paid for could turn out to be the most expensive of all.