RP lagging behind in mobile broadband use

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is lagging behind in the use of Mobile Broadband as compared to neighboring countries.

This according to Jaikishan Rajaraman, the senior director for services of the GSM Association, an association of worldwide mobile communications companies in over 219 countries that nearly has 800 of the world’s mobile operators.

In a press briefing in The Peninsula Hotel in Manila, Rajaraman said that despite the large number of cellphone users in the country, the number of those availing mobile broadband services through HSPA is still low.

Mobile broadband is an access to wireless high-speed internet through portable modem, telephone or other devices while HSPA or High Speed Packet Access upgrades the performance of WCDMA protocols, (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access which is a 3G cellular technology used to support wideband services like high-speed Internet access, video and high quality image transmission.)

Rajaraman said that even the awareness on the use of mobile broadband is even low in the Philippines and that some have the mindset that only certain set of customers could avail of the service.

However, Rajaraman said that they are optimistic with the possible changes that could be made since they see the Philippines as a very important country in the industry.

He said that plans will definitely be made for him to meet telecommunication companies in the Philippines as he is curious as to why the country is behind the Mobile Broadband use and in order to address the concerns and be able to help them come up with solutions that could boost the Mobile Broadband use in the country. Also, he said that he is willing to offer the government anything that he could assist with to boost the mobile broadband growth in the country. 

Rajaraman explained that other countries have been using mobile broadband not just for communication purposes but for certain operations that has helped individuals and the whole community and also in respective businesses.

In Australia for example, firefighters who attend to problem of bush fires download information of wind velocity and other information through HSPA so that they could corner and stop the fire from spreading.

According to Rajaraman, 3G Mobile broadband is not only available for the urban areas but also those in the rural places where small business players like farmers could check the status of pricing and have control over their products in result giving them an easier and faster way to see the progress of their business.

He said that as mobile broadband is for all, “it is not only providing them with good health and education but also with businesses.”

Mobile Broadband growth also gives a one percent increase in the GDP growth for the country for every 10 percent of broadband penetration, said Rajaraman, who explained that good connection would invite more investors and businesses.  

Rajaraman said that they are optimistic of the continuous growth worldwide for mobile broadband and that their goal to have 1 billion subscribers by year 2012 is “extremely achievable.”

At present, there are 4 billion connections of mobile broadband worldwide compared to 1.3 billion in fixed connections. The mobile connection covers 64 percent of the world’s total population.