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Kiko seeks data rollover in internet subscriptions

Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez*

Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) filed House Bill 4400 to mandate Internet Service Providers to provide data rollover in internet subscriptions.

The bill also provides penalties for non-compliance.

The bill aims to mandate Internet Service Providers to provide affordable options on Internet data subscription, including subscription plans and promos with data rollover, he said.

Instead of unused data expiring at the end of the subscription period, it will be added to data allocation for the following subscription period or until end of the calendar year, Benitez said.

This effectively lowers the cost of Internet data and saves the user money that they could use for other needs, he said.

It will be great help for students in blended or distance learning set-ups, and workers who choose remote work options, Benitez said.

He pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the digital transformation of government bureaucracies, businesses and schools, driving an increase in Internet adoption and use around the world.

According to the International Telecommunication Union, global Internet use increased by 17 percent, from 4. 1 billion users in 2019 to 4.9 billion in 2021, he said.

In the Philippines, at the onset of the pandemic in January 2020, there were 73 million Internet users, and by January 2022, 76.01 million were using the Internet, Benitez said.

The youth are among the most prolific users of the Internet. In 2019, use of the Internet for research and social media were highest among the age group 15 to 19 years old, at 87.1 percent and 93.1 percent, respectively.

The shift from in-person classes to distance learning, and the promotion of remote work, at the height of the pandemic has increased reliance on the Internet among students and young professionals, he said.

The pandemic highlighted the need for urgent interventions to enhance Internet infrastructure and regulatory structure to improve not just access to but also the quality of Internet services in the country, Benitez said.*

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