The Fastest Internet Plans In The Philippines (2023)

Written by Marc Adrian

In the most recent global index by internet speed monitor Ookla published in March 2020, the Philippines came in 104th out of 176 countries in the fixed broadband speed with an average download speed of 23.80 and ranked 116th out of 141 in mobile broadband speed with an average download speed of 14.24.

Clearly, the broadband situation in the Philippines has a lot of room for improvement but if you are in the market to sign up for a broadband service today, what options do you have?

Today, users have a choice of more than one type of broadband connection available for commercial use in the Philippines which cater to different lifestyles and needs. While the broadband speed is ultimately the number one consideration, its efficiency may vary due to various factors that the different broadband providers address differently.

Before jumping the gun and making your decision based on the download speed, read our back-to-basics guide to determine which will suit your preference, budget, and set-up first.

Types of Internet Connection In The Philippines

1. DSL

DSL which stands for Digital Subscriber Line is the most basic broadband connection type using a wireline transmission technology to transmit data over traditional copper telephone lines already installed to homes and businesses.

Should you get a DSL connection?

You could never go wrong with a DSL connection. As mentioned, it’s sufficient enough for any type of activities or works on the internet and its coverage pretty much extends almost anywhere in the country.

For a home with at least 3 devices connecting to the network on the average, a 6MBPs connection can already suffice. You can upgrade for a higher speed if your work requires higher bandwidth, but it can come with a hefty price tag.

2. Fiber

A state-of-the-art connectivity technology which uses fiber optics to convert electrical signals that carry data into light then sends it through transparent glass fibers that are about the diameter of a human hair.

Should you get a Fiber connection?
If you’re located in Metro Manila. Cebu, or Davao, a fiber connection is perhaps the fastest and most practical connection that you can get. Today, while the coverage is provider-specific, it’s safe to say that its coverage has gradually reached most parts of the urban areas in the country. It’s only a matter of which provider has more coverage in the respective areas.

3. Wireless broadband

This connection provides the internet through a radio link between the customer’s location and the service provider’s facility. Wireless broadband can be mobile or fixed.

Should you get a Wireless connection?

There are only two scenarios where a wireless connection would make sense:

1. If you’re in need of a backup connection for your work. This is most common with online workers to ensure that their job doesn’t get disrupted by blackouts.
2. If you only need light access to the internet for communication purposes, light browsing, and occasional streaming.

Broadband comparison and pricing

While all of them offer high-speed internet connection, choosing which one would be suitable for you will still boil down to the internet’s availability and reliability in your location.

PLDT

Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) is the most well-established internet service provider. They have a wide array of internet services that you can choose from and is one of the providers that have the widest coverage.

Their main offering is their wired internet service which is available in almost all areas – urban or rural. To date, their service has gradually shifted to Fiber connection, providing much faster download speeds to its customers.

PLDT offers both postpaid and prepaid services, giving customers the option to choose whichever may suit their needs and lifestyle.

Globe

Globe Telecom, one of the biggest competitors of Smart and PLDT, is known primarily for broadband offering is its wireless connectivity services. To date, they have further expanded their catalogue for wireless internet, one of which is their 5G offering. Their wired connection, on the other hand, is their least popular product due to its limited availability in certain areas. Either way, Globe’s main services are for the most part as reliable as other wired broadband’s offering, in fact, they offer some of the fastest download speeds in the market today.

Converge

Fiber-fast Speed Now up to 25 Mbps![/product

Coming onto the mass market as a fiber-only internet service provider, Converge aims to provide pure end-to-end fiber internet connectivity at a nationwide scale. It is perhaps one of the game-changing internet providers in the country. This is mainly based on the speed that they’re offering are faster than the average speed that its competitors offer at an attractive price point. The downside is, they’re not yet available in areas outside Metro Manila.

Skycable

The most prominent cable TV provider in the Philippines in the 1990’s which is now providing broadband services in the country. Since they’re quite new to the business, their coverage may be a bit patchy, reaching only limited areas at the moment. If you’re in the market for an internet service bundled with cable TV, this may among the best one that can provide you both.

Here are their service packages:

Dito Telecommunication

In a bid to break free the country from the long-running duopoly in the telecommunication industry, another key player will soon operate to provide the country with another option for their internet needs. The 3rd Telco called “Dito” has official launched in the Philippines, initially fast wireless mobile internet. To date, little is known about their broadband service packages are, but it’s expected to drop some time soon once they’ve fully held their ground with their mobile internet offering.

At the moment DITO is offering a data plan that costs ₱ 199 for 25Gb data valid for 30 days. It also comes with free calls and texts to other networks.

Main products and coverage comparison

Each provider has their own set of unique selling point, understanding which among the providers can cater to your area’s internet capacity is the key to getting the best internet service tha

Primarily, the performance of a broadband service will greatly depend on the location. In order to get your money’s worth, you should not rely on the internet provider’s promised download speed alone. You can find more comprehensive information in our roundup of the best broadband offers in the country.

There are certain items that you need to tick off to find that internet service that’s a perfect match for you.

With a little bit of an effort to get to know an internet service provider or a broadband service better, you’ll be saving yourself from a long-term agony of dealing with a sluggish internet connection. Lastly, align your expectations with your own assessment and the amount that you are prepared to pay monthly.