The Fastest Internet Plans In The Philippines
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.
The most affordable and has the most availability among all the three. Basically, it’s the standard connection in the market right now and is the go-to connection for basic to moderate internet use due to the fact that it doesn’t have a data cap and its connection speed is decent enough for browsing, streaming, and downloading.
Higher download speed can be extremely expensive and are mostly packaged as internet plans for businesses. To date, the maximum download speed available for consumers is 6MBPs.
| Speed | Up to 20Mbps |
| Availability | 5/5 |
| Streaming/Browsing | 3/5 |
| Gaming | 2/5 |
| Value for the money | 2/5 |
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.
The download speeds offered by Fiber connections are extremely fast and is basically the gold standard for internet connections in other countries. Its minimum speed is at least three times faster than a regular DSL connection with almost the same price range. Whether you’re just doing simple browsing or gaming, a fiber connection will most likely provide you with a seamless experience.
Fiber connection is still in its early stages in the Philippines, thus limiting its availability to key cities/areas in the country. Limited coverage is a bane for a large number of Filipino internet users who would not have the opportunity to use the connection for now.
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.
| Speed | Up to 1 Gbps |
| Availability | 3/5 |
| Streaming/Browsing | 5/5 |
| Gaming | 5/5 |
| Value for money | 5/5 |
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.
One of the strongest points of wireless broadband is its portability. You can get access to the internet anytime anywhere as long as your provider’s coverage is extended to that location. It doesn’t have to be plugged-in into the power outlet all the time to function, making it a viable backup in cases of a power outage or outdoor connectivity.
Stability isn’t exactly the best in wireless broadband. It uses 4G technology in transmitting data to the devices, but it isn’t as reliable as a wired connection (DSL and Fiber). Since it’s greatly dependent on mobile internet, any kind of obstruction can affect its reception.
Another downside to wireless broadband is that service providers set a certain data cap to their subscriptions. Heavy video streaming and gaming aren’t really suitable for this type of connection.
Should you get a Wireless connection?
There are only two scenarios where a wireless connection would make sense:
- 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.
- If you only need light access to the internet for communication purposes, light browsing, and occasional streaming.
| Speed | Up to 100Mbps |
| Availability | 5/5 |
| Streaming/Browsing | 3/5 |
| Gaming | 1/5 |
| Value for money | 3/5 |
The reliability of an internet connection may vary according to the location and the provider of the service. Some providers have better coverage in certain areas where their competitors don’t. Some locations may have limited serviceability in general due to its proximity to the providers’ service box.
Besides the state of the country’s digital infrastructure, another big part of your decision lies in the broadband provider and what they offer.
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
PLDT 20mbps Fiber Internet
Faster fiber internet speed for only ₱1,899 a month
Fast 20 Mbps with no data capPhilippine 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.
| Unli Fibr Plan 1699 25mbps | ₱1,699 |
| Unli Fibr Plan 2399 50mbps | ₱2,399 |
| Unli Fibr Plan 2999 100mbps | ₱2,999 |
The Fibr Plus plans come with 8 HD and 55 SD channels like HBO, PBA Rush, Cartoon Network, One News, CNN, BBC Earth, and many more! |
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| Fibr Plus Plan 2499 50mbps (unlimited) | ₱2,499 |
| Fibr Plus Plan 3099 100mbps (unlimited) | ₱3,099 |
| Fibr Plus Plan 4099 150mbps (unlimited) | ₱4,099 |
| Fibr Plus Plan 6099 300mbps (unlimited) | ₱6,099 |
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.
| Go Big Plan 1299 10mbps 500GB data cap | ₱1,899 |
| Unli Fiber Up 1499 20mbps | ₱1,499 |
| Unli Fiber Up 1699 25mbps 3 month access to KONSULTAMD family plan 3 month access to GInsure with FREE COVID-19 and Dengue insurance up to ₱140,500 3 month access to Viu Premium, HBO Go, and Amazon Prime Video Free landline with unli calls to Globe and TM | ₱1,699 |
| Unli Fiber Up 1899 35mbps 3 month access to KONSULTAMD family plan 3 month access to GInsure with FREE COVID-19 and Dengue insurance up to ₱140,500 3 month access to Viu Premium, HBO Go, and Amazon Prime Video Free landline with unli calls to Globe and TM | ₱1,899 |
| Unli Fiber Up 2499 50mbps 3 month access to KONSULTAMD family plan 3 month access to GInsure with FREE COVID-19 and Dengue insurance up to ₱140,500 3 month access to Viu Premium, HBO Go, and Amazon Prime Video Free landline with unli calls to Globe and TM | ₱2,499 |
| Unli Fiber Up 2899 100mbps 3 month access to KONSULTAMD family plan 3 month access to GInsure with FREE COVID-19 and Dengue insurance up to ₱140,500 3 month access to Viu Premium, HBO Go, and Amazon Prime Video Free landline with unli calls to Globe and TM | ₱2,899 |
| Unli Fiber Up 3499 200mbps 3 month access to KONSULTAMD family plan 3 month access to GInsure with FREE COVID-19 and Dengue insurance up to ₱140,500 3 month access to Viu Premium, HBO Go, and Amazon Prime Video Exclusive access to VIP hotline Free landline with unli calls to Globe and TM | ₱3,499 |
| Unli Fiber Up 4999 500mbps 3 month access to KONSULTAMD family plan 3 month access to GInsure with FREE COVID-19 and Dengue insurance up to ₱140,500 3 month access to Viu Premium, HBO Go, and Amazon Prime Video Exclusive access to VIP hotline Free landline with unli calls to Globe and TM | ₱4,999 |
| Unli Fiber Up 9499 1gbps 3 month access to KONSULTAMD family plan 3 month access to GInsure with FREE COVID-19 and Dengue insurance up to ₱140,500 3 month access to Viu Premium, HBO Go, and Amazon Prime Video Exclusive access to VIP hotline Free landline with unli calls to Globe and TM | ₱9,499 |
| HomeContent15 2GB data 1 day validity With 2GB free app of choice (Viu, Facebook, Youtube, Mobile Legends, Chat, and Earn apps) | ₱15 |
| HomeSurf99 15GB data 5 days validity Includes Extra 5GB open access data 1gb daily of watch, learn, chat, and earn apps | ₱99 |
| HomeSurf199 30GB data 7 days validity Includes Extra 23GB open access data 1gb daily of watch, learn, chat, and earn apps | ₱199 |
| HomeSurf599 60GB data 30 days validity Includes Extra 30GB open access data 1gb daily of watch, learn, chat, and earn apps | ₱599 |
| HomeSurf999 100GB data 30 days validity Includes Extra 70GB open access data 1gb daily of watch, learn, chat, and earn apps | ₱999 |
| HomeSurf1499 150GB data 30 days validity Includes Extra 120GB open access data 1gb daily of watch, learn, chat, and earn apps | ₱1,499 |
Converge
Converge ICT FiberX 1500
Same unlimited data & monthly fee, but higher 25 Mbps speeds (from 20 Mbps).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.
| FIBER X 1500 (unlimited) Up to 35 Mbps FREE Upgrade to Time of Day Day Plan 1899 70Mbps/35Mbps | ₱1,500 |
| FIBER X 2500 (unlimited) Up to 100 Mbps FREE Upgrade to Time of Day Day Plan 2899 200Mbps/100Mbps | ₱2,500 |
| FIBER X 3500 (unlimited) Up to 200 Mbps FREE Upgrade to Time of Day Day Plan 3899 400Mbps/200Mbps | ₱3,500 |
| FIBER X 4500 (unlimited) Up to 400 Mbps | ₱4,500 |
| FIBER X 7000 (unlimited) Up to 800 Mbps | ₱7,000 |
A unique and first-in-the-market offering that allows customers to get higher internet speeds at a pre-set time of the day. |
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Day Plan |
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| FiberX Time of Day 1899 | 70Mbps on Daytime / 35Mbps on Nighttime | ₱1,899 |
| FiberX Time of Day 2899 | 200Mbps on Daytime / 100Mbps on Nighttime | ₱2,899 |
| FiberX Time of Day 3899 | 400Mbps on Daytime / 200Mbps on Nighttime | ₱3,899 |
| Fiber Xtreme Time of Day 4899 | 800Mbps on Daytime / 400Mbps on Nighttime | ₱4,899 |
Night Plan |
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| FiberX Time of Day 1899 | 35Mbps on Daytime / 70Mbps on Nighttime | ₱1,899 |
| FiberX Time of Day 2899 | 100Mbps on Daytime / 200Mbps on Nighttime | ₱2,899 |
| FiberX Time of Day 3899 | 200Mbps on Daytime / 400Mbps on Nighttime | ₱3,899 |
| Fiber Xtreme Time of Day 4899 | 400Mbps on Daytime / 800Mbps on Nighttime | ₱4,899 |
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:
| 20 Mbps | ₱999 |
| 40 Mbps | ₱1,499 |
| 80 Mbps | ₱1,999 |
| 120 Mbps | ₱2,499 |
| 200 Mbps | ₱3,499 |
| 10mbps (with 10 HD | 39 SD Channels) COMES WITH High-Speed Modem & SKY Evo FREE Access to more than 160 online games | ₱999 |
| 30 Mbps (with Cable TV that has 10 HD | 39 SD Channels) COMES WITH High-Speed Modem & SKY Evo FREE Access to more than 160 online games | ₱1,599 |
| 60 Mbps (with Cable TV that has 10 HD | 39 SD Channels) COMES WITH High-Speed Modem & SKY Evo FREE Access to more than 160 online games | ₱1,999 |
| 120 Mbps (with Cable TV that has 20 HD | 56 SD Channels) COMES WITH High-Speed Modem & SKY Evo FREE Access to more than 160 online games | ₱2,999 |
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
| Provider | Main Products | Coverage Areas |
| PLDT |
| All Major Cities and Selected Areas Nationwide |
| Globe |
| All Major Cities and Selected Areas Nationwide |
| Sky Broadband |
| Selected Major Cities and Nearby Areas |
| Converge ICT |
| Selected Areas in Metro Manila |
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.
Ask your provider
- Does the ISP have service in your area?
- Can the broadband package of your provider of choice service your location?
Ask your neighbors or people in the location
- Is the internet connection stable?
- Does the internet consistently cut off randomly on a regular basis?
Ask yourself
- Can your needs work around a limited data cap?
- Do you (want to) download or stream a lot?
- How often will you use the internet?
- Are you willing to pay for a bigger data cap?
- Can you settle for a lower speed in exchange of unlimited internet?
Understand your demand for internet
- Does your internet practices or activities require a very fast download speed?
- Is a fast download speed but with data cap more practical?
- Is an unlimited internet but lower internet speed more practical?
- How many will use the service in your household? The more people using the higher speed and more data cap you’ll need.
Assess your lifestyle
- Do you need a landline?
- Do you watch TV and cable channels?
- Are you more into streaming services like Spotify or Netflix?
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.
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