Internet access in the Philippines was first established on March 29, 1994, at 10:18 a.m. when the Philippine Network Foundation (PHNet) successfully connected the country to the Sprint Network in the United States through a 64 kilobit link. This milestone marked a significant advancement for the nation, ushering it into the modern era of technology. Despite the initial slow speeds, many Filipinos were able to access the internet and explore its various offerings, such as bulletin board services. However, the Philippines still lags behind other countries in terms of internet infrastructure and accessibility.
As the Philippines continues to embrace digitalization and connectivity, significant changes have been observed in the online environment. According to World Bank data, nearly 50% of the population used the internet in 2020, indicating a consistent increase in internet usage rates compared to previous years. Despite the increasing demand for internet access, the quality of internet connectivity continues to be a significant concern. According to the latest Speedtest Global Index, the country's average broadband internet speed of 90.57 Mbps ranks 51st in the world. Furthermore, internet connectivity in rural and remote areas is frequently slow and unreliable, restricting access to digital services and impeding development. The Philippines has made significant investments in expanding its internet infrastructure, with major telecom providers such as Globe Telecom, PLDT, and Converge ICT extending their fiber optic networks to provide high-speed internet access to more regions of the country and in a groundbreaking development, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) approved the registration of Starlink, a satellite internet service offered by SpaceX, in 2022. The Philippines is the first country in Southeast Asia to have access to Starlink's services. NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba emphasized the agency's commitment to ensuring the swift and professional deployment of Starlink's internet service. On February 22, SpaceX announced that Starlink's internet service is now operational in the Philippines. According to a statement from SpaceX, as of July 2024, Starlink has 6,281 operational satellites, with plans to increase this number to 40,000 in the future. The Philippines seems to be on track and looking ahead, it is projected that by 2025, an estimated 15.5 million Filipino households will have internet access in their homes, however this figure is of stark contrast to the country's total population of approximately 113 million people.
Major Philippine Internet Players
(Last Revision: 28 JAN 2025)
PLTD Home
Plan |
Speed |
Limit |
PH Price |
US Price |
PLDT Home Unli Fibr 1399 |
200 Mbps |
Unlimited |
₱1,399 |
$24.00 |
PLDT Home Unli Fibr 1799 |
500 Mbps |
Unlimited |
₱1,799 |
$31.00 |
PLDT Home Unli Fibr 2499 |
700 Mbps |
Unlimited |
₱2,499 |
$43.00 |
Fee: Modem & Installation fee varies across plans - US Dollars are rounded up or down to the nearest dollar. |
Globe Broadband
Plan |
Speed |
Limit |
PH Price |
US Price |
Globe At Home GFiber Uni Plan 1499 |
300 Mbps |
Unlimited |
₱ 1,499 |
$ 26.00 |
Globe At Home GFiber Uni Plan 1799 |
200 Mbps |
Unlimited |
₱ 1,799 |
$ 31.00 |
Globe At Home GFiber Uni Plan 1999 |
500 Mbps |
Unlimited |
₱ 1,999 |
$ 35.00 |
Globe At Home GFiber Uni Plan 2799 |
700 Mbps |
Unlimited |
₱ 2,799 |
$ 48.00 |
Globe At Home GFiber Uni Plan 4999 |
1 Gbps |
Unlimited |
₱ 4,999 |
$ 86.00 |
Globe At Home Unli Fiber Up 7499 |
1.5 Gbps |
Unlimited |
₱ 7,499 |
$ 129.00 |
Fee: Installation ₱100 - US Dollars are rounded up or down to the nearest dollar. |
Converge Broadband
Plan |
Speed |
Limit |
PH Price |
US Price |
Fiber X 1798 |
300 Mbps + 25 Mbps Boost |
Unlimited |
₱ 1,798 |
$ 31.00 |
Fiber X 2500 |
300 Mbps + 50 Mbps Boost |
Unlimited |
₱ 1,998 |
$ 35.00 |
Fiber X 2298 |
300 Mbps + 200 Mbps Boost |
Unlimited |
₱ 2,298 |
$ 40.00 |
Fee: Varies - US Dollars are rounded up or down to the nearest dollar. |
SKY Fiber Unli Broadband
Plan |
Speed |
Limit |
PH Price |
US Price |
SKY Fiber Unli Broadband 999 |
75 Mbps |
Unlimited |
₱ 999 |
$ 18.00 |
SKY Fiber Unli Broadband 1500 |
300 Mbps |
Unlimited |
₱ 1,500 |
$ 27.00 |
SKY Fiber Unli Broadband 2000 |
500 Mbps |
Unlimited |
₱ 2,000 |
$ 24.00 |
SKY Fiber Unli Broadband 2500 |
700 Mbps |
Unlimited |
₱ 2,500 |
$ 43.00 |
Sky Fiber Unli Broadband 3500 |
1 Gbps |
Unlimited |
₱ 3,500 |
$ 60.00 |
Fee: Varies across plans (see their website) - US Dollars are rounded up or down to the nearest dollar. |
DITO Telecom
Plan |
Speed |
Limit |
PH Price |
US Price |
Dito Unli 5G |
upto 500 Mbps |
Unlimited |
₱ 1,090 |
$ 19.00 |
Dito Unli 5G |
upto 500 Mbps |
Capped 100 Gbs |
₱ 590 |
$ 11.00 |
Dito Unli 5G |
upto 500 Mbps |
Capped 25 Gbs |
₱ 190 |
$ 4.00 |
Starlink
Plan |
Speed |
Limit |
PH Price |
US Price |
Starlink Residential |
Varies (but fast) |
Unlimited |
₱2,700 |
$46.00 |
Starlink Roam |
Varies (but fast) |
Unlimited |
₱3,300 |
$57.00 |
Starlink Boats Mobile Priority 50GB |
Varies (but fast) |
Unlimited Inland |
₱15,394 |
$264.00 |
Starlink Boats Mobile Priority 1TB |
Varies (but fast) |
Unlimited Inland |
₱61,576 |
$1056.00 |
Starlink Boats Mobile Priority 5TB |
Varies (but fast) |
Unlimited Inland |
₱307,885 |
$5281.00 |
On 22 Feb 2023, Elon Musk's SpaceX announced that its satellite internet service, Starlink, is now live in the Philippines. A hardware kit is necessary and must be purchased to use Starlink. This kit includes a router, cable and antenna. The cost in the Philippines is ₱28,000. Refurbished hardware is sometimes available in the amount of ₱14,000. Please note that the router does not come with wired
ethernet connectivity. If you want wired ethernet, you will need to purchase a separate ethernet adapter with a cost of about $40. As of Sept 2025, there is a waiting list for connections from Angeles City to Cavite as this area has been saturated with connections.
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Other Options
There are several smaller internet service providers available, each offering different services, coverage areas, and pricing options. Below is a list of alternative providers I have identified, excluding business-only and satellite providers (with the exception of Starlink). It is important to note that many of these providers offer speeds of only 2 Mbps or less, yet charge the same rates as larger companies that offer speeds of up to 100 Mbps!